Animal lovers to give Shropshire rescue dogs a day out

Finding Furever Homes, based in Condover near Shrewsbury, has launched a new campaign to empty its kennels for the day in a symbolic move.

The Give A Dog A Day Out (GADADO) event will see dog lovers come from all over the country to take the pets out for a walk or to the park, and organiser Andrea Newton wants people across the county to join in.

She said: "The event is really to promote the fact that as a country we have far too many dogs in rescue, often for no good reason.

"Statistics say that last year almost 10,000 dogs were destroyed in pounds as owners abandoned, dumped, and failed to claim strays for whatever reason. There are not enough rescue spaces to save all these lives.

"My dream is that one day all rescue kennels will be empty, people will stop backyard breeding and throwing away their dog at the first sign of any challenge.

"As quickly as we are finding homes for dogs, others are at risk of being put to sleep and need that space so it is a never ending relentless conveyor belt.

"The event is symbolic as one day our kennels will be empty and all the dogs will be out with people who care enough to take them out.

"People are travelling down from Scotland, Kent and Cornwall to take part to give a rescue dog the chance of a normal day, out in a local beauty spot having a nice walk.

"Every dog should have a loving home to do that. These people are not claiming any expenses, they are paying their own fuel and hotels to be able to do this for a rescue dog – that is what real dog lovers do."

Participants will meet at the kennels in Condover at 11am on April 10 and will finish at about 2pm. To get involved or for more information, visit www.findingfureverhomes.org.uk