We go behind the scenes of £2m kennel refurbishment after tragedy
£2million that was raised, and while what we have done is amazing, we have still got more work to do.”
And this means despite the flood of donations that came in after the fire, the centre still needs help, not only to complete the rebuild but also to fund the day-to-day running costs.
Steve explains: “It costs between £1.5million to £2million a year to keep the centre running – our vet bills alone are astronomical. Our drug bill is at least £10,000 per month, and if we have dogs here with complex medical issues like cancer or broken limbs that can be much higher.”
Fortunately the number of stray dogs the charity encounters is less than it was a few years ago, partly due to the success of microchipping laws and neutering programmes.
Several charities in the Manchester area are also working with stray and abandoned dogs. Changes in housing in the area means that more people live in flats or apartments where they can’t keep dogs, meaning that fewer dogs are roaming the streets.
But sadly the home is seeing an increase in the numbers of strays with serious health conditions, which Steve suspects may be down to the fact that skint owners can no longer afford pet insurance or expensive vet bills.
“Dogs with health problems is always a big issue,” says Steve. “We never know what is going to come through the door. Recently we have seen several dogs with cases of mange, with broken bones.
“We see a lot of stray dogs that have long-term medical problems that we wouldn’t have seen five years ago, and this is probably because people can’t afford medical insurance or vet care any more. Usually the dogs come in as strays, we get people bringing dogs in that they say they have found as strays, but we can tell by the way the dog interacts with them that it is theirs.”
ut no problem is too big for Steve and his staff at the dogs’ home, and they can spend weeks and months nurturing dogs back to health and giving the care and training they need to find their perfect forever home. “There is no time limit for the dogs here – if they have health problems we will work with them to get them healthy and regain trust,” he says.
“It varies from dog to dog on how long it takes for them to be re-homed – some can be here for three years.” Breeds like pugs, French bulldogs or The number of dogs who were killed in the fire at Manchester Dogs’ Home
BJack Russells are really popular for re-homing, whereas dogs like Staffordshire bull terriers can take longer.
Recently the home has seen an increase in husky-type dogs coming through the door – which Steve believes is down to Game of Thrones. Dogs like Timber who has been waiting for a new home for six months.
Kennel hand Maria Brookes explains: “He is a Siberian husky and they need a lot of exercise and an awful lot of grooming – people don’t realise how much care they need.”
Also waiting for a new home is twoyear-old Lurcher-cross Conker. She came into the home as a stray seven months ago and sadly two attempts at re-homing her have failed.
Maria says: “Conker is quite nervous. She would be fine with her immediate family but wouldn’t like
lots of visitors. When she knows you well enough she will love you.”
Patterdale terrier-cross Reggie is 18 months old and currently undergoing a training programme at the home to prepare him for adoption.
He went through a stage of nipping the backs of the other dogs’ legs and doesn’t share his toys.
Harley, seven, is an adorable Staffy who loves to walk. Maria says: “He would need to be the only dog in the house and at first his new owner would have to be around a lot to help him settle in.” Manchester Dogs’ Home currently has a shortage of tinned dog food and are always looking for donations.
For more information about the home or to adopt a dog you can visit www.dogshome.net. STEVE ON SKINT OWNERS GIVING UP PETS
They bring in dogs as strays, but you know it is theirs