DogRescuereach€25k
DUNDALK Dog Rescue are delighted to announce they have reached their first milestone of €25,000, in the fundraiser to build Ireland’s first custom designed rescue centre.
Spokeswoman Edel Nolan told the Argus: ‘ The €25,000 raised to date may seem small in comparison to the overall total of €205,000 Dundalk Dog Rescue would like to achieve but reaching this amount has reaffirmed to the group that the people of Dundalk are willing to go above and beyond to help the local charity make their dream a reality.’
Fundraising efforts are well underway with an array of events organized by the charity themselves and members of the wider community!
‘We’ve had people taking part in the VHI mini marathon and Dundalk 10k on our behalf, people organising sponsored head-shaves and even have one lady who walked from Dunleer to Dundalk accompanied by her rescue dog Rusty,’ said Edel.
‘ The people of Dundalk have really blown us away with their support and we are so excited to raise even more funds over the summer and get the build underway’
She added that they had even noticed a substantial rise in the amount of people attending and supporting their annual events. ‘ This year’s sponsored dog walk has raised over €5000 to date making it the most successful sponsored walk in DDR history.’
‘Kilkerley primary school and St Vincent’s secondary school were quick to jump on board with the project and managed to host events to aid the cause before the end of the last school term.’
The reaction from the local business community could also not go unnoticed as companies including Petsafe, Quinns funeral home, Problem Paws dog training, National Pen and Paypal have all offered sponsorship along with their continued support.
‘ The same can be said for several of the local councillors, Maeve Yore, Mark Dearey and Conor Keenan who all opted to include DDR in their annual charitable donations,’ said Edel.
‘Local pubs have also taken donation buckets as part of our ‘ buy a dog a pint’ campaign and again people have been more than generous.’ And there’s more to come as local band Vertigo are not only partaking in one of the ‘Hell and Back’ events but will also be performing free of charge at an event the group have planned for September 1st.
‘Details are still to be revealed but what I can tell you is there will be a wedding reception with a difference for a couple of our four legged friends,’ she added.
The group have several of their own fundraisers planned before the end of the summer including ‘Paws in the Park on Sunday 20th August, with fun for all the family at Ice House Hill from 2-5pm.
‘We can promise the people of Dundalk that their donation, big or small, will be appreciated and in the long run, as a community, we will have achieved something incredible.’