Animal charity Tia Rescue celebrates first year in Nairn
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AN animal rescue charity has been celebrating its first anniversary in its Nairnshire home.
Tia Rescue, a centre specialising in rescuing and rehoming greyhounds and lurchers – as well as horses – moved from its original Yorkshire base to Easter Hardmuir Farm, between Auldearn and Brodie, in April 2022.
Originally founded in 1996 by Debra Rothery, the rescue centre in England used to house almost 100 dogs – however lockdown hit its income, forcing operators to find a more affordable base.
The rescue team had to start back from scratch in the new farmhouse, but hard work is paying off for the team.
Ms Rothery said: "It's absolutely beautiful here.
"This year has absolutely flown. It has obviously taken a bit getting used to it, as we had to change the whole way the charity functions.
"Back in England, we had state-of-the-art kennels, a café and seven charity shops. After Covid, we had to close the shops and therefore lost the income we had from them.
"We were not able to stay where we were any longer and afford the mortgage so we sold up and bought a farm up here.
"We couldn't have got what we have got up here down there."
A former policewoman, Ms Rothery named the charity after her first rescue dog.
"I have always loved dogs, and rehomed many throughout my life," she said. "After I rehomed my first greyhound, I just fell in love with the breed.
"They are great dogs, they have such a gentle nature."
Tia Rescue is now looking at getting more established in the area while enhancing the standards of care for its residents.
Ms Rothery said: "We are actively raising the money for a new kennel block and we are doing quite well.
"We have just been offered a pledge for funding – if we get the kennel block up and running they will help us financially.
"At the moment dogs are in temporary kennels and as much as many people think that they are absolutely fine it's not up to our standard so we are working to change that."
They are planning a big dog show which is set to be held at the start of September – a fun event which they hope will become a regular date in dog lover's calendars.
For more information about the cause, visit www.tiagreyhoundandlurcherrescue.co.uk
