Turkey and all the trimmings on menu at dogs’ home
THE dogs being cared for at Manchester Dogs’ Home this Christmas were treated to a turkey roast dinner with all the trimmings and presents.
Eight members of staff and volunteers worked at the shelter to make sure all the dogs got to enjoy Christmas.
Workers at the home, on Moss Brook Road, in Harpurhey, roasted the meat joints on Christmas Eve before taking it to the shelter bright and early yesterday.
The rest of the meal was prepared in the shelter kitchen facilities.
All of the dogs were treated to a roast dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, sausages, vegetables, stuffing, gravy and Yorkshire pudding.
The meal was made possible by kindhearted members of the public donating to the Manchester Dogs’ Home Christmas Dinner campaign. Every £1 donated helped provide a meal for the hounds.
All of the animals have been given new toys and treats on Christmas Day, also donated by members of the public.
Gifts for the pooches were wrapped up and placed under a tree in the atrium of the re-homing centre before being handed out.
There are also baubles on the tree displaying names of dogs that have died over the last year. Owners who have lost their dogs over the last 12 months have been invited to hang a bauble on the tree as a tribute to them.
Steve Mapley, Manchester Dogs’ Home manager, said: “(The dogs) love it, there is something to play with, there are treats and they have a right old field day. Christmas is a funny time of year. We don’t like seeing the dogs at Christmas in the home, but the fact they are here and not on the streets is a good thing.
“On Christmas Day we have skeleton staff coming in, there are around eight people who come in the morning and then the afternoon.”
Staff will continue to work at the home throughout the holidays, including today, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
The home has been doing its bit to stop families adopting dogs just for the Christmas period.
There’s been an embargo on adopting younger dogs since early December, ending in the New Year.
“We don’t want them to come back on Boxing Day after families realise the work involved,” Steve said.
Christmas tends to be a busy time for the dogs home.
Neil Outram, assistant home manager, added: “Older dogs come in over Christmas as people make way for that new puppy over Christmas.”
Here are some of the dogs who are looking for their forever homes this Christmas:
American bull dog Staffie cross Jet Lee is a long stayer. He is aged around 12 months.
Neil said: “He is deaf but responds to signing. He quickly adapts to sign language.”
Leela, 10, a Staffie-cross, is a stray who has been with the home since November. Neil said: “She’s not adapting to kennel life too well. It is sad as she has such a lot of love to give.”