Charity makes urgent plea to feed 150 rescue dogs this Christmas

A much-loved dog charity is calling on the public to help feed the 150 dogs in its care this Christmas after a particularly ‘ruff’ year.

Birmingham Dogs Home has launched its clever new campaign ‘It’s been a ruff year — we wish we only had six round for Christmas dinner’ in light of the current pandemic and dwindling income.

While families across England will be limiting their Christmas day festivities to a group of just six, the charity will have more than 150 homeless dogs for Christmas dinner at their centres in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Dog lovers can support the charity in several ways, such as by donating or purchasing ‘It’s been a ruff year’ gifts, such as personalised Christmas decorations, socks and e-cards.

The charity traditionally appeals for ‘shoe boxes’ of treats and toys for their dogs. They hope to do this again, subject to lockdown restrictions, with the support of its local Clarks shoe shops.

“We also hope that we can encourage people to join in with our virtual Boxing Day walk,” said Fi Harrison, Birmingham Dogs Home’s Head of Fundraising. “Earlier this year, we piloted a virtual walking challenge to replace our ‘Walk in the Park’ event, which had to be cancelled because of the pandemic restrictions and it went really well.

“We want people to make the most of their time outside with their dogs this Christmas and set themselves personal challenges to walk with (or without) their dogs to help raise some money and awareness for our charity.”

Lockdown has created many challenges for Birmingham Dogs Home as rehoming has been detrimentally impacted with both centres closed to visitors, which has meant costs have increased as more dogs have been with them for longer.

Christmas is always the most important time of the year for the charity to raise the vital funds it needs to be able to take in more dogs the following year.

Head to the charity’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/BirminghamDogsHome to get involved. Donations and purchase of the ‘It’s been a ruff year’ gifts can be made on the charity’s website 

www.birminghamdogshome.org.uk