Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
ROSE and Pepper don’t know it but they’ve got the largest run at the rehoming centre. But they’re making full use of it, ensuring they have a greeting, (of some sort), for all visitors who pass their way. And at last they’re getting visitors now.
After the lockdowns, the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) rehoming centre has reopened to the public so you can look round without making a prior appointment. It’s open every day from 11am – 4pm so if you’re looking for a dog, cat, rabbit or guinea pig, it’s a good place to start.
And while you’re there, they’ve also got a charity shop to visit plus, if you’re hungry, a café.
One of the reasons animals at the centre like visitors is because it means that as well as the possibility they might meet their new family, it also means they may get some food. NAWT operate the
Open Paw system of care.
This means that, unlike many rehoming centres where you aren’t allowed to feed the animals, at NAWT centres, outside each dog and cat pen, there is a pot of food from which visitors are encouraged to feed the animals. This is intended to teach animals to enjoy people approaching their pen.
Rose and Pepper gobbled up their food when I met them. Rose is the Staffie and Pepper looks more like a Shar Pei. They came to NAWT after their owner went into care. As far as NAWT know, they’ve been together nearly all their lives. Rose is cuddlier than Pepper who takes longer to come round to new people but they both enjoy walks.
If you want more details about homing this devoted couple, see nawt.org.uk or you can visit them at the NAWT rehoming centre, Tylers Way, Watford-by-pass, WD25 8WT.
There’s many things we’ve missed because of Covid and one of them is the fabulous special events at our local rehoming centres. But they’re back.
NAWT is planning a Golden Anniversary party at the centre (address above) on Saturday September 18 (11am – 3pm).
There will be homemade cakes, stalls and games. If you have any items such as bottles of wine or toiletries that can be used as prizes,
NAWT staff would be grateful if you could drop them into the centre beforehand.
On party day, parking at the centre is limited so NAWT ask us to park at the nearby Mercure hotel car park but you must register your car with Mercure Reception. For details see nawt.org.uk