When we first visited Doris Banham Dog Rescue (DBDR) in the UK, we were deeply moved by what we saw. It is rare to meet such a committed and competent team dedicated to dogs for whom euthanasia was just days away.
In England, many local authorities have DBDR’s number on file. They know if they have a really bad situation, DBDR will send someone to fetch the dog – no matter how dangerous it is and no matter where in the country it may be, even if it is hundreds of miles away.
This crucial shelter has one mission – to save the dogs others send to an early, lonely death.
DBDR is known as the last chance saloon for dogs, their only hope of avoiding a death sentence. Dogs like Sadie. Sadie only survived because no-one at the council could get close enough to euthanize her – not even the vet. The authorities called the DBDR team, and after three months of hard work and training, a happy Sadie will soon be going to her forever home.
Bear, a white staffie, was just one day away from being put down because no-one wanted to pay for the vet bills for the ‘cherry eye’ disorder that was sending him blind. Today, Bear is also looking forward to joining a loving family soon, his eyes – and his life – saved.
Scotty was bought as a furry companion for an 80-year-old grandmother. When his elderly owner died two years later, no-one in the family wanted Scotty, who had become a vicious, unsocialized ball of matted fur. The family asked a vet to euthanize him, but luckily, the vet called DBDR first, the only shelter willing to clean him up and socialize him. Now, Scotty is a happy, well-adjusted dog looking for a new home of his own.
These dogs – and countless others – are only alive today because our partner refused to give up on them.
Bear was on death’s door but no-one wanted to pay for his vet bills. Sadie was so aggressive that even the vets could not approach her. And Scotty was so badly neglected that she became a vicious ball of overgrown fur – our amazing partner rescued them all. Credit: Doris Banham Dog Rescue
At the shelter, the dogs are given the dedicated attention, medical care and training they need to overcome their problems and eventually find forever homes – an intensive process that often takes months. Whether the animal needs expensive, long-term medical treatments or a strict training regime, this is the only place they’ll get it.
Sadly, for the first time in its history, DBDR can’t pay its bills. Demand is so great it started building new kennels, but construction problems drove the cost up massively, leaving the team with no funds to pay the bills. Now, food suppliers are warning of no more deliveries until they are paid.
Calls constantly come in, asking for help for a dog who otherwise faces death – but with no more space at the shelter, it’s difficult for the team to help them.
Because of the long-term commitment each dog requires, new spaces don’t open up often. The only way for us to ensure the team can continue giving dogs one last chance is to construct more kennels – and for that, we need your help.
The construction has plunged our partner into debt and for the first time in their 24-year history, they have unpaid bills.
Many of the dogs DBDR takes in have faced some of the worst abuse we’ve ever heard of – the dog injected with heroin for a laugh… the dog stabbed in the neck and left hanging… the dog thrown from a high-rise building because it bit its drug-crazed owner.
These are the animals who are relying on us for protection. Without this vital shelter, animals who deserve a second chance will be put to death – please help us stop this from happening by donating generously today.
