New charity launches to help dog rescue centres
A dog groomer has launched a charity with six of her friends to help rescue centres and organisations across the UK cope with caring for traumatised or abandoned animals.
Give a Dog a Gift has just been launched and is planning a host of fundraising activities in the new year.
Dog groomer Yvette Jones, who set up her business Canine Capers in Norton Canes, Cannock Chase, in 2010, said the charity was aiming to help small independent dog rescue centres and homes across the country.
The 47-year-old, of Heath Hayes, said: "I got together with some friends and we decided we wanted to do something to help dog rescues. We all share a love of dogs.
"I've always had a love of animals since I was small. There's so many dogs that need our help. To have dogs in kennels, they are so petrified. We just need to help them.
"The rescues will each need something different. It could be food, blankets, it might be home-checking or transporting.
"We are not giving money away, apart from maybe vets bills.
"We are asking for sponsors and we need to get people on board who will fundraise.
"People can make handmade things which we can sell on our website and there are ideas on what kind of things people can do to raise money.
"One lady is going to run the Coventry half marathon."
Former veterinary nurse Mrs Jones, who owns two golden retrievers, Finlay, five, and Marlow, two, added: "My love of animals took me into a career as a veterinary nurse, and in 2010 I opened my own dog grooming business.
"All of my dogs have been rescues and as such this venture is very close to my heart.
"I have two golden retrievers and have fostered many goldies. In fact, our latest addition was our last foster dog, who came to us in an absolutely petrified state. We fell in love with him and just couldn't part from him."
Visit www.giveadogagift.org or the charity's Facebook page for more information.
