Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
DESPITE fierce storm Ciara raging, Dogs on the Streets (DOTS) had their usual station on The Strand last Sunday.
When I visited them, the wind was so strong, it felt like I was being picked up and parachuted in from the underground.
DOTS is a fantastic charity that looks after the dogs of rough sleepers not just in London but also other locations around the country.
As well as giving out canine essentials, they also have a large van which is registered as a mobile veterinary practice.
True to form, on Sunday, despite the challenging weather, the founder of DOTS, Michelle Clark, was at the dog station together with her team of frontline volunteers.
That afternoon they saw 18 dogs. DOTS have a dog station every Sunday afternoon (2pm to 4pm) on The Strand next to Charing Cross Police Station. If you want to know more about their work, it’s great news that DOTS will be having a stall at the Ealing Animal Charities Fair on March 7.
Another good cause having a stall at the fair is the award-winning charity, Nowzad.
This charity was created by Pen Farthing, a former Royal Marine commando after he broke up a fight between two dogs in the town of Now Zad in Afghanistan in 2006. After the fight, one of the dogs followed Pen and they ended up spending the next six months together.
At the end of his deployment, Pen brought the dog home to the UK and founded Nowzad which, after they have returned home, reunites service personnel with the dogs and cats they befriended while on service.
Nowzad also operates a busy animal shelter in Afghanistan which is staffed by a team of Afghan nationals. It’s good news that Pen, who is the author of the bestselling book, One Dog at a Time, will be giving a talk at the Ealing Animal Charities Fair.
This popular event takes place on Saturday, March 7 (10.30am to 4pm) at Hanwell Methodist Church, Church Road, Ealing, W7 1DJ. There will be 40 animal charities there plus a fantastic programme of speakers. For further information see ealinganimalsfair.london – admission is free.
■ Nearer to home, Dogs Trust will also be having a stall at the Fair. Currently waiting there for a new home are Sandy and Nell, two stunning trailhounds who need to be homed together.
If this could be with you, Sandy and Nell are waiting at the Dogs Trust rehoming centre, Harvil Road, Uxbridge.