Charity for disabled animals seeks funds for centre

A CHARITY that rehomes disabled animals on “doggy death row” has begun raising funds to open its first rehabilitation and adoption centre.

Wolfie’s Legacy has found new homes for more than 500 dogs since its launch in 2017 but has now outgrown its current premises.

Founder Gill Daghistani, from Holywell in Flintshire, began the charity after she agreed to look after a rescue dog from Hungary for a few days, while transport was arranged to take him to his home in Scotland.

But when Wolfie was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy, his intended home was no longer suitable, so Ms Daghistani cared for him until his death, just under two years later.

She told the PA news agency: “When I lost him I was heartbroken, but I also thought ‘What about all the other Wolfies?’

“What about the dogs that no-one ever cares about? They are just put to sleep and no-one will give them those last two years of happiness.”

The charity aims to rehome as many disabled dogs as possible, taking them in from around the world, and wants to demonstrate the joy that comes from owning an “imperfect” dog.

It is now hoping to raise £250,000 to build a first-of-itskind adoption centre in north Wales, specifically for disabled dogs.

Included in the plans are an on-site vet clinic, a rehab centre with hydrotherapy, a grooming salon, and boarding facilities for past and present Wolfie’s Legacy dogs. A bistro and glamping facilities will also help raise money for the charity.

Ms Daghistani personally matches the dogs with the right owners and says she often rehomes disabled dogs with disabled families.

“These people come to us because they can’t rehome through some of the bigger dog charities, and we can find them a dog suited to them,” she said.

The Stern family rehomed Mini from Wolfie’s Legacy last year, and mother-of-one Lucy was so inspired by the charity’s work that she became a trustee.

She said they had originally been looking to rehome a senior dog.

“Gill has this uncanny ability for matchmaking,” she said.

“You might see these dogs on the Facebook page and go, ‘I want that dog, that dog’s amazing’. And Gill will say, ‘That dog is amazing, but that dog is not amazing for you’, and she will find the right one for you.”

Donations to the appeal can be made at https://wolfieslegacy. org.uk/donate