Hope Rescue in Wales have been working hard to improve the welfare of dogs since 2005 irrespective of their breed, age or medical condition.
As a small and independent registered charity we rely on the support of volunteers and donations, and after plenty of hard work and dedication we received the most amazing news…our very own rescue centre! We still can’t really believe it ourselves as this has always been our aspiration, and with the help of #givingtuesday, we’re hoping to make this dream a reality.
We currently don’t have our own rescue centre, and instead use commercial boarding kennels at a cost of between £50,000 to £80,000 a year. We have had an offer accepted on an incredible property in South Wales with facilities that will truly transform the lives of our rescue dogs. The purchase price and fees total £670,000. Initially we are looking to raise £100,000 to help reduce the amount we need to borrow and provide some working capital; if we can raise more, even better, as the lower the loan repayments the more money that can be spent on our wonderful dogs.
The benefits of owning our own facility include:
- Improved welfare and enrichment for our dogs with 80 kennels, 2 exercise paddocks, 18 acres of private woodland with dog walks, indoor training room and a grooming room
- Increased number of dogs available for adoption (in addition to our foster dogs)
- The ability to help more dogs including the Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC stray dog contract
- Increased volunteer opportunities, including supported employment and volunteer placements
- The opportunity cost of savings on boarding kennel fees
- Expansion of our community outreach services including provision of temporary canine respite for owners facing crisis situations such as domestic abuse
- Increased opportunities for public awareness and education
- Increased opportunities for income generation and fundraising
This really does represent a huge step-change in what we can do to improve the lives of stray and abandoned dogs in South Wales and we know that with the help and support of everyone we’ll be onto the right track.
#givingtuesday will not only help us with donations towards our final goal, but will hopefully raise awareness on how just a small act of kindness can offer a second chance to so many.
If you want to learn more about our work, or to donate, please visit our website.