Dogs Trust Darlington raises £300 with help from animal artist Allison Clarke

Clare Hopps is our Supporter Relations Officer at Dogs Trust Darlington, so is often busy organising events at the centre such as the Christmas Fair. Here's a post from her on one of the favourites from last year's event:

In September 2011 animal artist Allison Clarke approached Dogs Trust an offered a prize of a bespoke dog portrait. As I was looking for a prize for our Christmas raffle for our upcoming Christmas Fair, I very gratefully accepted her kind offer.

We ran the raffle in the weeks leading up to our Christmas Fair and also during the event on the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of December. I displayed a picture of one of Allison’s paintings on the raffle stand and as the picture was very eye catching, which meant that we sold a lot of raffle tickets!

The raffle raised over £300 for Dogs Trust and the lucky winner of the portrait was Dave the dog owned by Fiona Cropper. The completed painting of Dave (above) is beautiful and he certainly looks very handsome!

A huge thank you to Allison for supporting Dogs Trust in such a creative way!

Allison’s work can be viewed at: goodytwohooves.tumblr.com

To see what Dogs Trust Darlington has planned for this year, check the centre page on our website or take a look at the Events tab on our Facebook Page. 

Please email Clare or contact the centre on 01325 333114 for more information about an event or if interested in booking a stall or offering a prize.

VIDEO: Dogs Trust Darlington appeals for special home for two special dogs

Cleo, a 5 year old Saluki cross, came to Dogs Trust Darlington with Anna, a 9 year old Pointer cross a few months ago. Their previous owner was no longer able to look after them and although they are both friendly with other dogs and love people, staff were struggling to find them a home as they needed to go together and lots of visitors are just looking to rehome a single dog.

Now it’s going to be Dogs Trust Darlington’s hardest ever rehoming appeal as sadly both have become poorly in the past month and staff are struggling even more to find them a new owner.

Anna the Pointer cross has just been diagnosed with an inoperable brain lesion (like a tumour) which affects her mobility and her life expectancy is likely to be short. She’s still very happy at the moment and has a good quality of life so staff are really keen for her to find a home soon where she can live the rest of her days with Cleo.

Cleo the Saluki cross became lame suddenly while out on a walk last month. She was taken to the vets for X rays and they found that she has a problem with the joint of her hind left leg, so has been on strict rest and pain relief since then. Staff are monitoring the situation and she may need surgery in the future.

Dogs Trust will cover all the veterinary costs for Anna and any veterinary cost relating to Cleo’s leg, so new owners need not worry about the cost of taking on these dogs.

They’re absolutely lovely-looking dogs and are great with people and other dogs so it’s such a shame that they’re still looking for a home. Please call the centre on 01325 333 114 if you think you can change their fortunes; Dogs Trust Darlington is open for visits daily, including weekends, from 12pm-4pm (except Tuesdays, when it's closed for staff training).

Meet the girls:

Urgent rehoming appeal: Toby the Dalmatian pup

Dogs Trust Darlington is today making an urgent rehoming appeal for one of their most unfortunate canine residents. Sadly, poor eight month old Dalmatian Toby is unlikely to live beyond the age of two because of a digestive illness.

Sue Embleton, Dogs Trust Centre Manager, explains:

“Toby has megaesophagus, a congenital condition meaning food does not pass through to his stomach properly. He needs small, frequent meals and should be held up in a begging position while eating so gravity can help the food move down his oesophagus.

It’s heartbreaking that he is unlikely to live beyond the age of two, but we’d love to find him a caring home where he can enjoy the time he does have.”

His previous owners brought him to the Sadberge centre when they were unable to care for him any longer. Toby cannot be kept in the kennel environment because he is susceptible to infections so staff are making an urgent appeal for a foster home.

New owners need not worry about Toby’s medical bills as Dogs Trust will cover the expense. He would settle in best in a calm home without young children or other pets.

If you are interested in rehoming Toby please call the centre directly on 01325 333 114.

Dogs Trust dog gets featured on Topsy blog

When Zoe, Barbara and Belinda set up the 'Travels with Topsy' blog in honour of their 1975 VW camper van, they probably didn't realise it would be usurped by a one-eyed Bull Terrier crossbreed called Olive. But then, I don't think any of us expect how much our pets completely take over our lives, online and off (though we wouldn't have it any other way).

Olive was somewhat overlooked when she was at Dogs Trust Darlington because of her one eye, fitted right in at home with the gang. She and the kids immediately fell in love with each other, and though Olive and the cat aren't the best of friends yet but they're not sworn enemies either, which is sometimes quite good enough, especially in the early days.

Very kindly, Topsy and the gang have declared their support of Dogs Trust and added a link to our website from their blog. Please allow me to extend my thanks on behalf of the team here, and also thank them warmly for giving a one-eyed Terrier a second chance and a happy life. It makes us feel a real warm glow to see her making herself comfortable in Topsy (above) and it's thanks to people like you that we can do what we do!

Dogs Trust Darlington puppy chaos: babes of all breeds needing homes

Dogs Trust Darlington has had quite an influx of younguns recently, including 35 taken in during the last weeks of November. They're now very keen to find homes for a whopping eight litters of playful pups.

There are Labrador Crosses, Lurchers, Collie Crosses and Staffordshire Bull Terriers all available at the centre, so if you are thinking of getting a puppy then this might be the centre to start your search at!

Staff have had to be creative about naming their new charges, so have given each litter a theme, including:

• Contestants on I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here
• Hat types (e.g. Fedora and Beret!)
• Reindeers (e.g. Blitzen and Prancer)
• Characters from The Lion King
• Celebrity offspring (e.g. Cruz and Knox)

At the centre, Supporter Relations Officer Katie Purvis comments:

“Every year we take in puppies that have been bought as Christmas presents and abandoned once the novelty wears off.

Dogs need a lot of time, love and devotion and anyone considering getting a dog should think very seriously before adding a dog to the family. Remember that a dog is for life, not just for Christmas!”

If you are interested in rehoming one of the pups please call the centre on 01325 333 114.

The centre will not rehome from 21st December to 2nd January 2008, but visitors and dog walkers are still welcome and dogs can still be booked during this time.

Dog of the Week: Jake @ Dogs Trust Darlington

Introducing... Jake!

Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Age: 8

Likes: I'm a fun loving dog who loves being around people. Through no fault of my own I've lived at Dogs Trust more than once and would love a permanent home now.

Dislikes: I'm not particularly keen on other dogs as I don't like sharing my owner's attention!

Needs: I'm told I'm a bit exuberant for younger kids so it would be nice to have a household with children 16 or over who understand Staffies and are willing to be as active as I am.

Contact: Dogs Trust Darlington on 01325 333114 or visit Dogs Trust Rehoming Online for more information about adopting a dog.

Previous Dogs of the Week: Dougie @ Salisbury | Connor @ West Calder

A 'Welcome' donation to Dogs Trust of £100,000

Last week a major milestone was reached as Dogs Trust confirmed that the charity has received £100,000 in donations through a partnership with Welcome Cottages. Welcome Cottages partnered with Dogs Trust five years ago to donate 10 percent of every cottage rental to the charity.

The valuable funds raised will be used to provide care in the 17 rehoming centres nationwide and help Dogs Trust to support its education and outreach projects.

Welcome Cottages will continue to donate 10 per cent of every cottage rental booked through direct booking line and www.dogstrust-cottages.co.uk.

A large proportion of the money raised will be used to build and equip a brand new vet suite at the Darlington rehoming centre, Hill House Farm. The centre, which provides care for over 120 dogs, will use the new suite to carry out small operations including dental work, neutering and microchipping.

Clarissa Baldwin OBE, Chief Executive of the Dogs Trust said:

“Being able to offer Dogs Trust loyal supporters the opportunity to book pet friendly holidays whilst donating to the charity is an ideal partnership. Money raised is used for spreading the word about responsible dog ownership, developing new rehoming centre facilities and investing in long-term education programmes in schools and clubs across the UK.”

Fitness for free with four-legged friends at Dogs Trust Darlington

With pet and human obesity on the rise, there is an increasing number of initiatives in place to try and fight the flab, both human and canine. As well as planned programmes like Active Family, Active Dog, there are plenty of ways to work off the extra summer ice creams and help a rescue dog get out and about.

Volunteers at Dogs Trust Darlington have been making the most of the Co. Durham countryside to improve their fitness by walking, hiking and running with residents from the Rehoming Centre. With room for 65 dogs at any one time, there's a rescue pooch there to suit everyone's fitness level.

Amanda Meeks (pictured) has been one of Darlington's most sprightly volunteers for the past three years. In all weather conditions she pops down to the Sadberge centre to take the most energetic hounds out for vigorous six mile runs across the surrounding countryside.

Tailoring her runs to suit the needs of the canine companions, Amanda's routes taken in local moor land, woods and river banks to give her charges a really stimulating break from kennels. Their confidence and social skills soar along with their fitness, and Amanda has a long-distance running partner that can keep the pace!

There are also rehoming benefits, as Sue Embleton, Dogs Trust Darlington's Centre Manager, explains:

"Some dogs can find kennel life stressful, meaning they find it difficult to settle and show their best sides to potential owners.

The dogs who have had a good run with Amanda are likely to spend the rest of the day relaxing, and this makes them more appealing to centre visitors. We're always trying to think of new ways to enrich the lives of dogs in our care until a new home is found, but nothing beats a good, long run!"

Amanda adds:

"It's a joy to volunteer for Dogs Trust. I get an enthusiastic and entertaining running companion as well as a warm glow from knowing that an overlooked canine is getting a well-deserved adventure."

If you have some pounds you'd like to shift, are interested in adopting a dog or want to volunteer in another role, call Dogs Trust Darlington on 01325 333 114.

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

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.