Canine Carer: My life as a dog in kennels!

If any 19-year-old told you they'd be spending the weekend hanging out in their house with friends, you probably wouldn't find it unusual. Unless of course that 'house' is a Dogs Trust kennel and their mates have four legs each...

Big-hearted canine carer Tom spends his days providing dedicated care to the residents of Dogs Trust Salisbury's kennels, but from the 18th to the 20th of July he'll be living like one of his charges!

He's appealing for sponsors to dig deep and support him as he spends 48 hours living the kennel life. To make the experience as authentic as possible, he'll sleep in an extra-large dog bed and eat only chicken and rice, similar to dogs on a speical diet. Though there'll be a few dog toys to keep him occupied, he won't be allowed his mobile phone or iPod.

Tom explains:

"I've always loved dogs, so I was very excited to start working at Dogs Trust last November. Since then, I've gained a greater appreciation of what stray and abandoned dogs experience while they're waiting for a new home. I came up with this idea to draw people's attention to what they go through and also to raise funds for the dogs in our care."

To sponsor Tom, just drop by his JustGiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/tomcliftonmoore/. He's set a target of £1,000, so please do feel free to post the appeal on your blog, Facebook page, Twitter feed or anywhere else you'd like.

I for one love this unusual idea, and hope Tom smashes his target as well as encouraging people to rehome a dog.

Good luck, Tom!