Kentish Express Ashford & District
Kennels is full with dumped pets
Haven Boarding Kennels says it is full with dogs that have been dumped or abandoned.
At one point this week, the kennels at Laws Lane, Mersham, which receives dogs picked up by Ashford Borough Council dog wardens, had 17 animals in its care.
Manager Tina Miles said: “We have had a bad couple of weeks with strays at the moment. We have six Jack Russells, four lurchers and four staffies. We are unsure what is going on with these dog as some of them are well looked after.”
The kennels have Jack Russell terriers from the age of six months to 10 years old, both males and females.
They would also like to find a home for Riley, pictured, a staffie-labrador cross, who is about two years old and loves dogs and people.
For more information call 01233 720384. Families looking for a new addition are asked to consider two-year-old Ronnie, who is in desperate need of a new home after a bad bite from another dog meant having his toe amputated.
Affectionate Ronnie, a labrador and German shepherd cross, is being looked after in Ashford by husband and wife, Susan and Ian Park, on behalf of charity Labrador Rescue.
The couple, from Kennington, decided to foster animals after recently losing their 13-year-old labrador Tess.
Mrs Parks said: “We’ve always had a dog but our Tess died in March and we were heartbroken. It felt a little soon to get another dog, so we looked into fostering.
“Ronnie is such a gorgeous thing and he loves having his tummy rubbed.
“However, he doesn’t like our rabbits too much, otherwise we would keep him.”
Ronnie was originally found straying in Ireland but was brought over to the UK to be looked after by Labrador Rescue.
He has been staying with the Parks for the past three months whilst he has recovered from an operation on his front right paw.
While staying at the Green Lane Farm Boarding Kennels, in Surrey, Ronnie was bitten by another dog through the bars of his kennel. The kennel’s vet sta- pled and bandaged the wound.
After the incident, Ronnie was brought to Ashford to stay with the Parks. They took him to the Eureka Veterinary Centre in Kennington, who quickly realised that his paw was infected.
It was decided that his best option was to amputate his toe to remove the whole infected area and prevent gangrene.
‘Ronnie is such a gorgeous thing, however, he doesn’t like our rabbits too much, otherwise we would keep him’
Vet Karolina Iskra said: “The moment he woke up from the anaesthesia he was much happier and things progressed very quickly after that and he was rapidly walking with no pain.
“Thanks to Mr and Mrs Park’s hard work, determination and loving care Ronnie is back to normal, pain-free and is not missing his toe or the bandages.
“Throughout his ordeal Ronnie remained a happy go lucky chappy and was always a pleasure to see. All he ever wanted was a big belly rub.”
Ronnie is now looking for a forever home – he is great with children and would suit a family home.
Contact Sue Birmingham, from Labrador Rescue, on 0208 4081214 if you feel you could offer him a suitable home An Ashford girl got the chance to realise every footballer’s dream by getting her hands on the FA Cup.
It happened when Jenna Bourne, 12, was among 100 youngsters from across the UK invited to visit the new St George’s Park national football centre in Staffordshire for the Beko Ultimate Football Experience, hosted by Jamie Redknapp.
Jenna was among five children from Kent who took part in the trip with their families.
They secured their places on the day in a competition for six to 15-year-olds run by Beko, the official home appliance partner of the FA Cup.
Jenna and the others experienced a host of activities including a training session with Beko ambassador and former Spurs star Jamie Redknapp, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of St George’s Park and access to an FA performance coach.