Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
I’VE just arrived at Trafalgar Square, it’s pouring icy rain and I’ve discovered my shoes leak. But how can I complain when it’s immediately clear that I’m in the midst of lots of other people with wet feet who, unlike me, have no home in which to dry them?
More than 24,000 people are currently sleeping rough, in tents or on public transport in Britain and London has its share.
I’m on my way to the weekly Sunday afternoon Dogs On The Streets (DOTS) station on The Strand where DOTS give care to the dogs of rough sleepers. I know I’m nearly there when I see two young people with dogs walking with purpose ahead of me. The bitter cold contrasts with the warmth of the welcome they receive at the dog station.
DOTS was founded in 2016 by Michelle Clark after she had been running a street outreach programme for six years. The DOTS station, also a registered veterinary practice, offers health checks, training and grooming. DOTS now have dog care stations in several locations (see dogsonthestreets.org) with a new one opening soon in Wembley.
With frozen feet, I left the station, past the tents to the warmth of Leicester Square underground – fully aware that all it takes is a few wrong decisions for many of us also to be in financial trouble.
Michelle is part of the fantastic programme of speakers at Ealing Animal Charities Fair on March 2 (10.30am-4pm). Other speakers include Dr Alison Cronin (director of rescue centre Monkey World), Duncan McNair (of Save The Asian Elephants) and Sea Shepherd. There will also be lots of stalls. The fair is at Hanwell Methodist Church, Church Road W7 1DJ. Free entry.
Boo, an Old Tyme Bulldog, wants to get her four feet under someone’s table pretty quickly. Although she might be sleeping like a baby now, she knows what it’s like to be homeless as she was handed into Battersea Dogs and Cats Home after being found as a stray.
She may be a little hard of hearing so needs owners prepared to try alternative styles of training such as hand signals. See battersea.org.uk if it could be you.