Dogs Trust Loughborough... a year on!

1^st May 2013 marks exactly one year since the full team started working at the centre in Wymeswold, Loughborough.  The building was finished and the time had come for everyone to come together and begin the induction into their career at Dogs Trust.

The day began with introductions to key personnel from Head Office before the Management Team were introduced.  The team were then allocated of uniform, handbooks and lockers before getting a guided tour of the centre by Paul who had designed the building.  The centre was now alive and already everyone was counting down the days till the barking started and the dogs arrived!

Sam

Receptionist Sam remembers this time fondly, “There’s nothing more nerve-wracking than starting a new job, but knowing that there were 30 other people starting with you helped turn the nerves into excitement! I can remember the first four weeks leading up to the first dogs arriving as if they were just last week, and I am very proud to say that I have been a part of the past year’s accomplishments that all of us at Loughborough have achieved! I look forward to us continuing our success in the years to come, and thank everyone who has visited us for all their support.”

Kelly

Kelly joined Dogs Trust Loughborough as an experienced Vet Nurse Assistant and says: “The 1^st few days were exciting but daunting as everyone was getting to know one another. But it wasn’t long before we all became a team, especially when the dogs arrived and the real work started. The thing that stands out most about our induction time was all the people from head office and different areas within dogs trust and how each and every one of them was genuinely passionate about the welfare of dogs and how to help and improve this in the future”.

Ella

Ella was very excited to joining Loughborough as their Supporter Relations Officer after being involved with the charity for a number of years.  She says: “1^st May 2012 was my dream day! After being a volunteer for a number of years at Dogs Trust Leeds I couldn’t wait to be working for Dogs Trust Loughborough.

Walking through the reception doors on the first day, I was nervous to meet the new team but at the same time I was filled with excitement to start my new role. Ever since that day I have never looked back!

The past year has gone so quickly, with some great stories to tell. Every day is different, one day you could be planning the first Summer Show, the next you could be filming the dogs playing in the snow. One of the big highlights was our first Xmas Fair, which raised a massive amount of money thanks to the amount of supporters we have gained in the area. We saw so many of our dogs coming back to say Merry Xmas and of course to come and see Santa Paws, they all looked so happy with their new forever families. My personal highlight was of course adopting my blue merle border collie Moss from the centre, who I would never be without”.

Claire moved from the Glasgow centre to be part of the Loughborough team and as the Assistant Manager Admin remembers those first few weeks “being super busy sorting kennel routines, ordering cleaning supplies, food bowls, beds and everything to make our first dogs comfortable when they arrived later that month. It was really exciting for the site to finally be ours, although I was worried I was going to get lost as it was like a maze at the start! It was great to meet all of the team and there was such a buzz about the place. The best moment during this time was when our first dogs arrived, at last the kennels were full of barking, excited and waggy-tailed canine residents, all looking for their new homes. This was what we were here to do!”

It's just a matter of weeks until the centre celebrates its first birthday and with a full of fun events and activities taking place, please do pop down and join in the fun.

• The fun starts on the 24^th May with a 'wear yellow and black non-uniform day'.

• On the 27^th staff and volunteers begin an 464 mile (distance between our Ifracombe and West Calder centres) cycle ride and will be peddling away every day on an exercise bike in the reception area. 
• A cake sale, plus fun competitions such as name the puppy, and win the giant dog, will be taking place at the centre over the weekend of the 1^st and 2^nd June. 
• On the 2^nd June why not join us at Rushcliffe Park for a sponsored dog walk!

For more information on taking part in the dog walk or non-uniform day please email Loughborough@dogstrust.org.uk

 Thank You!

Meet some more of the team....

Adrian

Caroline

Meg

Nico

Steph

Kirsty

Lauren

Sarah-Jane

Sam E

Zoe

Meet Dogs Trust: Vicky Kelly

Name: Vicky Kelly

Location: Dogs Trust Glasgow Rehoming Centre

Job: Supporter Relations Officer

You what...? I talk constantly about Dogs Trust, at least I’m sure that’s how it must seem!
I attend events, speak at community groups and organise events at the centre to promote the work of Dogs Trust.

Best thing about my job: Listening to people’s stories of the canine companions they have shared their lives with and seeing long term residents leave the rehoming centre with their new families.

Pets & Family: I have my rescue dog Toffee who hides her age very well. She has lived with my husband, Martin and I for over 12 years. Goodness knows what she thought when my two daughters arrived however she has always been a superb four-legged play friend.

Favourite websites: Without doubt Facebook! I have friends and family all over the world and it’s a great way to share photos and keep in touch.

What I'm reading now: Other than my friends status updates on Facebook and Oxford Reading Tree stage 5 (my daughters school book) I don’t make enough time to read. I do however enjoy books by Bear Grylls and Dame Ellen MacArthur as I am an adventurer at heart!

Weekend plans: Absolutely none what so ever! This is most unusual. Perhaps I’ll get chance to pick up a book?

Previous Meet Dogs Trust: (Pirate) Brian Child | Alexandra Roumbas

Image credit: Stuart Dreghorn

Dogs Trust goes International as Liza Fitzpatrick helps "fashion" a home for Man's Best Friend in Ireland

Dogs Trust is soon to have its 18th Rehoming Centre, and the first International site, with the creation of a state of the art complex in Dublin.

TV style guru Lisa Fitzpatrick is today helping us mark the start of work on the new site, which is the next stage of our work in the Republic of Ireland, which began in 2005. The aim is to bring an end to the destruction of stray and abandoned dogs through a national neutering campaign, an education programme and, of course, the new Centre.

Over 12,500 stray and abandoned dogs were destroyed in Ireland in 2007 for want of a good home. That’s the equivalent of 34 dogs every day. The new Dogs Trust Dublin which will care for over 1,000 stray and abandoned dogs from all over Ireland every year.

Located north of the city, (near junction 5 of the M50), the centre will provide everything an abandoned dog needs to get him back on his paws again including the love of our specially trained staff. The Rehoming Centre will be conveniently located off the Ashbourne Road so it will be easy to get to from both North and South of Dublin.

The Rehoming Centre will include the following:

• 24 rehoming kennels (all angled and glass fronted)
• 6 puppy kennels (all glass fronted)
• Indoor puppy play area
• 30 holding kennels (all angled and glass fronted)
• Sponsor Dog Suite with three glass-fronted 'homes' for sponsor dogs
• Underfloor heating for all kennels
• Surgical suite - see below for how you can help with this!*
• Behaviour assessment and training suite
• Training barn
• 6 free-running exercise and play areas
• Accommodation for 3 members of staff to live on-site

Dogs Trust Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin, said:

“We are so thrilled to be starting building work on our very first Rehoming Centre in the Republic of Ireland. We look forward to working together with our local partners in Dublin towards helping as many stray and abandoned dogs as we can. This new Rehoming Centre will enable us to care for over 100 rescue dogs at any one time and help us to find new homes for all these dogs with so much love to give.”

Lisa told us:

“It is a pleasure to be a part of this event which marks the beginning of a brighter future for dogs in Ireland. I look forward to seeing the finished results of this stylish and cutting edge Rehoming Centre in September 2009. I’m sure it will be amazing if plans are anything to go by!”

Dogs Trust will provide regular updates over the year on progress. Meanwhile, check out the picture above of the plans to get an idea of what to expect.

*Surgical suite: Building a fully equipped vet suite will cost £180,000. Can you help us raise the funds? If you want to contribute towards the building of the new suite, you can do so by simply making a donation on the Dogs Trust website, choosing "Dublin appeal" from the dropdown to ensure your money goes directly where you want it to. There is also a link to this appeal on our Facebook Page. The dogs in our care thank you for your generous support.

Dog of the Week: Madge @ Dogs Trust Leeds

Introducing... Madge!

Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Age: 2

Likes: I am a pretty typical Staffy - full of enthusiasm and always ready for a cuddle, fuss and attention. I'm also very keen on my food and treats, will get on well with other dogs and have mastered the art of walking well on the lead.

Dislikes: I'm happy to get on with other dogs but I would much rather live alone with my owners.

Needs: If you have a lot of love and attention to spare, I'm the dog for you! I'm full of energy and will make a loyal and loving pet.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Leeds on 0113 281 4920 or visit Madge's page on the Dogs Trust website.

Previous Dogs of the Week: Ryan @ Dogs Trust Darlington | Tyzer @ Dogs Trust Evesham

Dog of the Week: Ryan @ Dogs Trust Darlington

Introducing... Ryan!

Breed: Crossbreed

Age: 12

Likes: I love to spend time with other dogs and meet new people because I have the energy of a dog half my age! I also really enjoyed a visit to a local care home, and I think they liked meeting me as well.

Dislikes: None, really! I'm active, relaxed and well-behaved.

Needs: I'd prefer a house with children over the age of eight. For no fault of my own I've lived in a few different places and would really like to settle down for good this time.I can happily live with cats as well, and am fully housetrained.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Darlington on 01325 333 114 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk

Previous Dogs of the Week: Tyzer @ Evesham | Olive @ Snetterton

Pet rentals, pet sharing and shelter walks: can part-time ownership work?

The Wall Street Journal featured an article the other day which seems to be something of a whistlestop tour of part-time pet ownership. Dogs Trust's feelings about dog rental (echoed by experts from the American Veterinary Medicine Association and the Humane Society) are well-documented. We feel it is thoroughly unfair and unsettling to a dog to be passed around from person to person. Dogs thrive in a stable, routine-driven environment, and they can develop nervous - even aggressive - behaviours if they are denied this stability.

But what about pet-sharing? Some people have got together with friends or neighbours to split the cost of owning a pet and share the time spent with them. This is almost certainly a step better than pet rental since the dog has a set routine (daily walks with one owner, for example, and a regular bed at the other, the same food and rules in both homes) and fewer people are involved. Isn't it a bit like just bonding with a very big family?

Mostly it is, and if all the people concerned are very consistent and the dog has a regular base, it will probably be more or less like having a dog that your mum takes care of while you're at work or your brother takes for his evening walk because they've bonded and enjoy the time together.

Still, though, there are questions over such arrangements. Unlike with an informal family agreement, there's a question of split costs here. What happens if one neighbour wants to take permanent ownership of the pooch because their circumstances have changed? Who 'owns' the dog? They've both paid for his vet bills, food, toys and insurance, so who has the 'right' to him? Suddenly a dog becomes thrust into a custody battle, and these can be terrible as any divorced couple deciding who gets the dog will tell you.

So what's the solution if you want the company of a dog but can't afford to own one or aren't sure you have the time? Get yourself down to your nearest centre! There are short and long-term residents at shelters and rehoming centres that need walks, socialisation and attention. They will relish every moment of company they get and will be glad to get to get to know a regular walker whom they are familiar with.

One family mentioned in the WSJ article went to help out a rescue dog and ended up so closely bonded with her that they adopted her. So it's not just a great way to be around dogs when you can't have one, it's also a good way to know for sure if you are ready to be a dog owner.

Foster caring is also a good way to help and can give a dog a longer-term sense of stability. If you cannot commit for years ahead but know that you can offer a home for, say, six months, you can take part in home-from-home fostering schemes for kennel-stressed dogs such as the ones run by Dogs Trust. If you also want to help a family in need, you can take part in our Freedom Project (London and Yorkshire) which provides care for the pets of families escaping domestic abuse, so that they can run without fear of their pets paying the price.

There are so many ways to get involved in a dog's life that don't require paying hundreds of pounds and putting a dog in a situation where its best interests are not really considered. Thousands of dogs are looking for a forever home and in the meantime you can give them a bit of extra comfort and TLC. Isn't that better than thinking up contracts or paying rental?

Arnie, Barney and Kurt join Dogs Trust as new sponsor dogs!

Three new sponsor dogs have been named at Darlington, Glasgow and Leeds Rehoming Centres; supporters can now help Dogs Trust offer a safe and happy home to three more dogs who might otherwise never be rehomed.

Dogs like Arnie (Glasgow), Barney (Darlington) and Kurt (Leeds), pictured left to right above, might have great difficulty finding a home due to a difficult past or the need for specialist medical treatment. Just £1 a week from a sponsor will mean that Dogs Trust can give them a comfortable life for the rest of their days.

Introducing the new dogs:

Arnie

Age: 4
Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Brindle & White)

Brown-eyed Arnie has a penchant for carrying big sticks and he loves to paddle in the pond near the Centre, although he hates having to come out of the water again.

Barney

Age: 5
Breed: Springer Spaniel (Liver & white with extremely droopy jowls!)

Found as a stray in Ireland before coming to Dogs Trust. He's a typical Springer; this hyperactive fellow loves his walks, toys and food!

Kurt

Age: 7
Breed: Crossbreed (Brindle)

Kurt - or Kurty - is a nervous dog; he was found wandering the streets as a stray. However, he loves his carers and is learning to trust again thanks to their attention.

To learn more about our sponsor dogs, or to sign up to the scheme, just visit our website.

Dog of the Week: Tia @ Dogs Trust Ballymena

Introducing... Tia!

Breed: German Pointer

Age: 3

Likes: I love to hang out with large dogs and play with my toys. I enjoy training and know some basic commands, so it would be great if you'd continue my training!

Dislikes: Being lazy! I'm an active dog.

Needs: A family with older children who will give me all the exercise I need.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Ballymena on 028 2565 2977 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

Dog of the Week: Jeff @ Dogs Trust Bridgend

Introducing... Jeff!

Breed: Collie

Age: 8

Likes: I need mental stimulation and a few walks a day, but I'm not extremely energetic. I'm a friendly, housetrained dog.

Dislikes: Sudden movements.

Needs: I'm deaf, and I need to be the only dog in a calm home without children.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Bridgend on 01656 725219 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

Dogs Trust Open Days in July: Newbury and Bridgend

The 6th of July is going to be a busy day for two Dogs Trust Rehoming Centres - it's the date of their annual Open Day!

Bridgend and Newbury will both be opening their doors to anyone who wants to come along and have some fun.

Newbury will be open from 12pm to 4pm with a Fun Dog Show covering 10 classes including Most Handsome and the Rogue's Gallery for rehomed Dogs Trust dogs. The Doggy Dash is also open to all and their canine compnaions. Great raffle prizes and home made sweet treats will also be on offer. Entry and car parking are free, with a £1.50 entry free for the Fun Dog Show, with judging at 1pm.

[Plumb's Farm, Hamstead Marshall, Newbury, RG20 0HR]


If you live closer to Bridgend and also want to show off your dog, then worry not, because the fun-loving staff there are also running a Fun Dog Show. With eight classes, including Waggiest Tail and Best Rehomed Rescue Dog, there are plenty of chances to get involved. If you've got a daring, active dog, you can leap into the fray with amazing agility displays. There's also a silent auction where you'll get a chance to bid for amazing prizes like a private recording session, a vineyard tour or a day's paintballing for 40 people.

Entry to the event is free, with car parking at £3 per vehicle and dog show entry at £2 per pooch. Gates are open from 11am to 4pm.

[Court Colman, Pen-y-Fai, Bridgend, CF31 4NG]


If you live locally, there's no excuse not to have a good time with Dogs Trust this Sunday! Enjoy, and do tell us if there was anything you particularly enjoyed or would like to see included in the future.

Dog of the Week: Bouncer @ Dogs Trust Leeds

Introducing... Bouncer!

Breed: German Shepherd Cross (female)

Age: Around four and a half months

Likes: Gentle care and attention. I was thrown out of a van onto a busy road and need lots of TLC but I am quite friendly and happy.

Dislikes: Sudden, strange situations; I'm a little nervous.

Needs: Amazingly, I sustained no physical injuries - hence my name! - but I will need a little help building up my confidence with people. I'm ready for a loving family!

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Leeds on 0113 281 4920 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

Dog of the Week: Claudia @ Dogs Trust Kenilworth

Introducing... Claudia!

Breed: Collie Cross

Age: 5

Likes: I am friendly with other dogs and, like most Collies, very active so I love to run and play. Because I'm shy I don't get noticed at the centre so I've been here for three years!

Dislikes: I get nervous around strangers.

Needs: An adults-only home with owners that are happy to introduce me gently and patiently to new people and who have a lot of time to run around with me.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Kenilworth on 01926 486010 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk

Dog of the Week: Norman @ Dogs Trust Roden

Introducing... Norman!

Breed: Collie Cross

Age: 7

Likes: I am very affectionate and love lots of fuss and cuddles. A good game of fetch is always welcome and it helps me keep in shape because I love my food. I also like other dogs and older children.

Dislikes: Younger children make me a bit nervous but I get on very well with kids over 10.

Needs: Though I'm on the older side, being a Collie type I have bags of energy and am young at heart, healthy and playful. Can you keep up with me?

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Roden on 01952 770 225 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

Dogs Trust lost dog appeal: have you seen Jasmine the Staffy?

Dog owners in the Mitcham area and across the country are being reminded that dogs can be lost and stolen all too easily. Two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Jasmine (pictured), went missing from her enclosed back garden in Mitcham on Sunday, the possible victim of a dog theft.

Neutered and microchipped, young Jasmine appears to have been the latest in a string of recent dog thefts in the area.

All too often, Dogs Trust hears of pedigree and crossbred dogs being stolen for ransom, breeding, hunting, selling on to unsuspecting members of the public, or, worst of all, for use by dog fighting rings. Prevention is definitely better than cure, as getting your dog back is very difficult.

Five tips for ensuring your dog's safety:

• Microchip your dog, remembering to update your contact details every time they change.
• Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and tag with your name, address and phone number (not his / her name, as it can make them more likely to trust a stranger). A collar and ID tag is a legal requirement.
• If your dog is neutered, consider stating this on a tag attached to their collar. This might put off certain types of thief, especially if they're a pedigree.
• Never leave a dog unattended outside a shop, in a parked car or in an unobserved garden.
• Immediately report stolen dogs to the police and local dog warden.

If you have seen Jasmine or have any information on her whereabouts please contact Megan on 07852 345731 or 07834 049773 anytime. Confidentiality guaranteed.

Black cabs go sunshine yellow to promote Dogs Trust

Buster hails a cab...

London's black cabs are set to mirror today's glorious sunshine as Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, launches its very own fleet of 18 yellow taxis.

The cabs are designed to raise awareness of our work, in particular the Sponsor a Dog scheme, and will be spotted cruising all over the capital over the next 12 months.

Do you know why Dogs Trust has a sponsoring scheme? In the words of our Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin:

"Whilst we make every effort to find the perfect home for all our dogs, some - who may have hd a particularly bad start in life - are simply happiest living outside the normal home environment. We take care of these dogs too under our Sponsor a Dog scheme.

"Our work of rescuing and rehoming is only made possible by the support of the public so spreading the word is incredibly important to us. We are very excited to be able to use these bright, cheerful taxis to help raise awareness of these special dogs."

Sean Hogg, a black cab driver from Barking (honest!), is keen to get behind the wheel as he already sponsors Shane at Dogs Trust. All Dogs Trust taxi drivers are keen dog lovers who will explain to any interested passenger about the benefits of sponsorship and adopting a rescue dog.


Sponsor a Dog - The Knowledge

How much? As little as £1 a week!

What do I get? Regular news and updates, a sponsorship pack of fabulous free gifts and the knowledge that you're helping Dogs Trust give a dog all the TLC he needs. You can even sponsor a dog as a gift for a friend.

Where can I sign up? Call Dogs Trust on 020 7837 0006 or visit the Sponsor a Dog website.

Dog(s) of the Week: Bella and Rex @ Dogs Trust Evesham

Introducing... Bella and Rex!

Breed: Rottweiler Labrador Cross (Bella) and Brindle Bulldog Staffordshire Cross (Rex)

Age: Bella is 3 and Rex is 2

Likes: Training - we're both recent graduates of Evesham's one-to-one training programme. We were both very nervous initially but we've made huge strides in just four months.

Dislikes: Rex isn't keen on other dogs, but Bella has developed a liking for Collie types! Neither of us is fond of cats.

Needs: Rex is extremely sociable and friendly while Bella is still quite shy though improving rapidly. We'd both require homes without children.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Evesham on 01386 830 613 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

Dogs Trust fundraising: can you lend your support to our fans?

Recently I've been reading our social networking sites and forum with a big smile on my face. Why? Because many supporters have come forward with a range of creative ways that they've decided to support Dogs Trust (and for a variety of reasons). Here are just some of the events going on over the next few months to give you some inspiration if you were stuck for ideas:

Adele's eBay Pet Portrait Auctions (end 09 June 08): Adele contacted us about publicising her auction on our Facebook page, and we're very glad she did. Guaranteed by Mission Fish, 10% of the proceeds from the auction for these portraits goes straight to Dogs Trust, so the more you bid, the more you raise. It's much appreciated, Adele.

Auction 1: 10" x 14" portrait from photo
Auction 2: 12" x 16" portrait from photo

David's Northern Rock Cyclone Event (14 June 08): DoggySnaps regular David McGarry must be in the last stages of training now as there are just eight days to go before he straps on his trainers and cycles 31 miles in aid of Dogs Trust. Phew! You can sponsor him here. Thanks, David.

Stacy's Great Scottish Run (07 Sept 08): On our bebo page, Stacy told us about the 10km run she is fervently training for in memory of her best friend who was a committed supporter of Dogs Trust. You can sponsor her here. Good luck Stacy!

Keep Bilbo on the Beach Facebook Group: A group set up for a very different doggy cause has been urging its members to make donations to Dogs Trust in order to show their support for dogs in general. This is very generous and we're most grateful.

We're incredibly grateful to every single supporter who has made a donation, carried out a fundraising event, sponsored or adopted a dog or just spread the word. It all counts and the dogs in our care are very glad you did what you could to help them.

National Microchipping Month: have you microchipped your pet yet?

One in three lost dog reunions happens thanks to microchips.

In a call-to-action marking the beginning of National Microchipping Month (June 1-30), Dogs Trust is urging those owners who have not microchipped their dog to make it their number one priority.

A tiny chip coded with a unique reference number is implanted via injection just under the skin between the shoulder blades. A hand-held scanner held over the area can identify the number which corresponds to a database of owner contact details.

As painless and brief as a normal jab, this procedure now accounts for 32% of dogs being reunited with their owners, a massive rise from 7% in 1999. Microchipping overtook the ID disc in effectiveness five years ago!*

This only represents a proportion of the lost dogs that were returned home, and does not reflect the overall numbers of strays in the UK. According to the last survey the total number has, sadly, increased.

Dogs Trust Chief Executive Clarissa Baldwin comments:

“Of the hundreds of stray dogs that come to our centres, it is heartbreaking to think that many once had loving homes.

“More and more dog owners are aware that microchipping is the most effective and proactive means of ensuring a lost pooch will be returned.

“If you haven’t had your pet microchipped, make this the month to do it. Dogs go missing all the time, for all sorts of reasons, and microchipping is by far the best precaution you can take to ensure your furry friend doesn’t end up on the streets, or even being put to sleep.”

Owners can expect to pay £20-£30 for microchipping at their local vets’ or £10 at our 17 Dogs Trust Rehoming Centres. You can find your nearest Centre by calling us on 020 8837 0006 or visiting www.dogstrust.org.uk.

All dogs adopted from our Centres are microchipped, neutered, vaccinated and health-checked before being released to their new owners.

*Please note that a collar and ID tag are required for dogs out in public under UK law.

Dog of the Week: Monty @ Dogs Trust Glasgow Rehoming Centre

It's the start of a weekly feature - and who doesn't like weekly features? Every Friday, we'll be showcasing dogs from our Rehoming Centres around the country who would dearly love to find their forever homes. Just contact the centres directly if you think you might be the perfect match.

Introducing..... Monty!


Breed: Trailhound

Age: 2

Likes: Belly rubs! Happiest when out, about and occupied as I'm full of fun and energy.

Dislikes: Cats

Needs: A very active, adult home and a big, secure garden where I can get time to play. Owners who are willing to take me to training classes and who have experience owning hounds would be best.

Contact: Dogs Trust Glasgow Rehoming Centre on 0141 773 5130 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk for more information on the rehoming process.

Dogs Trust Merseyside at the Wirral Coastal Walk

Our Rehoming Centre staff don't just work tirelessly to provide a comfortable life for the dogs in their care, they also take part in numerous fundraising activities. Volunteer Co-ordinator Liam McDonald is seeking sponsors to help him raise money for Dogs Trust by undertaking the 15 mile Wirral Coastal Walk.

Taking place on Sunday 18th May, the centre has been drumming up support and volunteers to accompany Liam (with a choice of 5, 10 or 13 miles as well, depending on ability).

Fancy the opportunity to stretch your legs, whittle your waistline and help dogs across the UK? You can just turn up on the day and register at Seacombe Ferry registration table between 9am and 11:30am.

Otherwise, why not support Liam's effort by sponsoring him through his Just Giving page? It only take a few clicks to make a real difference to the dogs in our care, with no minimum (or maximum!) amount required.

As ever, your donations and support are gratefully received and appreciated.