Ark kept calm and carried on
ASHBOURNE Animal Welfare, which runs The Ark Rescue and Rehoming Centre for unwanted and stray cats and dogs just outside town, have “kept calm and carried on”.
They have adapted how they operate to cope during uncertain times but continued to come to the aid of animals in need – never turning away a cat or dog in trouble.
Staff and a small group of volunteers have cared for the Ark residents and made sure that they have received lots of love, exercise and attention.
The rescue centre has been busy and is now also an approved rehoming centre for ex-racing greyhounds, many of whom are retired at an early age from the track.
Contrary to popular belief, greyhounds make excellent companions and are usually gentle and loving.
While they enjoy a quick gallop round and playtime, what they really like to do is laze around and have a snooze!
In addition to these lovely dogs, The Ark has helped a wide variety of other dogs including terriers, Staffies, labradors, Chihuahuas and many more.
Of course Ashbourne Animal Welfare also helps cats so here are a few stories about some of the charming cats they have helped.
Little black Skip was found by a good samaritan in a bin on a back street near a block of flats. Despite this he was very trusting of humans and very friendly.
He has now gone to a caring home, where he will be valued and not treated as disposable!
Gentle ginger giant Jimmy came into The Ark when his owner went into care.
He needed veterinary treatment for painful ingrowing eyelashes as well as a visit to the dentist.
The operation on his eyes meant he had the indignity of having to wear a large plastic bucket round his head and, as he wasn’t very good at judging how much space he needed to leave to go through doorways, the cattery resounded to crashes and bangs for a few days before the offending bucket was removed!
Jimmy is now making a good recovery and his eyesight is much improved.
The rescue centre is also in the middle of ‘kitten season’ and has already helped many mums and their abandoned litters.
Princess and her four kittens William, Harry, Mia and Zara were found under a shed and at first volunteers could not reach them.
Fortunately, Princess then decided to move her family into next door’s Wendy House and, as cat volunteers do not give up easily, they managed to firstly catch the kittens and then Princess.
It was a good job they did get rescued when they did as all were in very poor condition and the kittens were in the early stages of cat flu, which can be very serious at such a young age.
The Ark is in its 20th year although sadly a big party does not seem very likely – instead the charity is running a 20th birthday raffle to raise funds to help run the rescue centre.
Tickets cost a £1 each and can be bought in books of five online at www.ashbourneanimalwelfare. org or can be purchased over the phone, tel 01335 300494, and paid for by card.
The charity is also out and about on Saturday in Ashbourne when it has a street collection.
This will be its first fundraising event since last March – so if you are in town there is a chance to support the Ark.
Ashbourne Animal Welfare as always is extremely grateful to its loyal supporters for continuing to help them over these past months.
The charity has been concerned that, with no open days or events for people to attend, they might be forgotten and once support was lost it would be difficult to regain.
However, they have been constantly cheered and morale kept high by the generosity and messages of encouragement of their sponsors and friends.
Supporters, among other things, have sold tomatoes, plants, household items, done sponsored walks, sent their hairdressing money, the money they have saved from not going on holiday or having outings.
Some enterprising youngsters have done a sponsored run, held a sponsored silence and painted portraits of friends and neighbours’ dogs.
And all to raise funds for The Ark. All donations, large or small, are valued by the charity.