Night in the dog house to fund animal rescue centre sensory garden
ATEAM of animal carers plan to spend a night in the dog house in a bid to raise funds for a new sensory garden at their rescue centre.
Five animal care assistants will be ‘ruffing’ it by sleeping inside the newly refurbished kennel block to try and raise at least £150.
Money raised will go towards creating a sensory garden for animals at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre.
Bristol team members Georgia, Kadie, Ted, Kaya and Kelly will each spend the night in a kennel later this week.
Anna O’Dell, fundraising and communications manager at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre, said that the garden will help distressed and confused dogs adapt to their new safe lives.
She said: “Many of the dogs who are taken into our care have come from difficult circumstances.
“They’re trying to adjust to a sudden and dramatic change in their circumstances. They might be in pain from a medical condition they’ve not yet been treated for.
“They’re in an unfamiliar environment with people they have never seen before. They arrive scared and stressed.
“While our team do all they can to help our animals feel comfortable and happy while they’re here, kennels are a stressful environment for them.
“Beyond their daily walks and enrichment activity, they need a space to relax, which is why we need to create this dog sensory garden.”
The sensory garden will will cost around £13,000 to bring to life and aims to reduce stress and anxiety and encourage dogs to feel more secure in their surroundings by using different smells, textures, sounds and tastes.
Anna added: “Our team are passionate about caring for these animals, many of whom have been through a lot.”
You can support the team’s fundraising efforts by visiting justgiving. com/campaign/kennelsleepover