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Posted: 21st December 2015
Centre faces closure in the new year without funding
A rescue centre for retired working dogs from the police, Ministry of Defence and security industries is facing an uncertain future due to funding problems.
Bravo Working Dog Rescue has launched a crowd funding drive to raise £5,000. Without these funds, the centre says it will be forced to close in the new year, putting the lives of hundreds of working dogs in jeopardy.
Animal behaviourist Debbie Connolly founded the rescue centre in 2012 as she was saddened by the fact that in the previous 10 years, over 800 military dogs were euthanised when their working lives ended.
The centre's work is financed by donations, fundraising and profits from Ms Connolly's own paid animal behaviour work. Currently the kennels are filled with rescues which limits the capacity for paid client work.
Over the past 18 months the centre says it has been preparing its site for new kennels to be donated by British Transport Police. But it claims the kennels supplied are not fit for purpose and it will now cost £10,000 to build the planned kennel block.
Initially the centre is hoping to raise £5,000 to avoid closure and build a few of the kennels.
Responding to the charity's claims that it has been 'let down', a spokesperson from British Transport Police said: "British Transport Police purchased a number of kennels in 2012 for use during the London Olympic Games. These were also later used for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, and the 2014 NATO Summit in Wales.
"After these events, the kennels were deemed surplus to requirements and the decision was made to donate some of the dog kennels to Bravo Working Dog Rescue.
"We are very disappointed to hear that the kennels provided are not to Mrs Connolly’s satisfaction and we would encourage her to contact us to discuss the matter further."
Visit Bravo Working Dog Rescue's JustGiving page here: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/bravo-dog-rescue-kennels
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Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.
