Animal rescue shop at Walsoken celebrates its first birthday

Ravenswood Pet Rescue shop official launch when Rea the lurcher behaved impeccably (Image: Archant)

Ravenswood Pet Rescue opened its shop at Bambers Garden Centre on the outskirts of Wisbech in February last year and in 12 months alone have re-homed more than 150 dogs and raised hundreds of pounds.

Fenland dog warden Caroline Trigg, who set up Ravenswood six years ago, said: “We’ve had some amazing donations, including collectables, pool tables, brand new items too.

“We’ve probably homed around 150 dogs in the last year if not a few more, we’ve also had dogs bought into the shop that owners can’t keep.

“Money wise we’ve paid around £2,500 off our vet bill, and it pays the food bill for all the dogs that come into our care - that’s after we’ve paid the rent.”

Caroline along with Shelley Ridgeon and a team of committed volunteers, launched the shop with an official opening from NE Cambs MP Steve Barclay.

The rescue is a non profit making organisation set up in a bid to stop heathy dogs being put to sleep on day eight when they are left unclaimed from council dog pounds.

It also helps abandoned dogs, or dogs who can no longer live with their owners due to illness or life circumstances.

Caroline, who has rescued dogs in one way or another since she was 10, has worked tirelessly so that Fenland is one of the only areas in the country where stray dogs are not automatically euthanised on day eight.

The group is a small independent rescue where dogs live with volunteer foster carers until they find permanent homes.

She said: “We are self financed and do all our fund raising from car boot sales, quiz nights, kind donations and adoption fees. There are only a few of us involved so the shop has brought in much needed money to help keep running so we can continue finding loving forever homes for the dogs that come to us.”