Nowhere is the saying ‘a dog is for life and not just for Christmas’ more pertinent than for charities such as Bristol Animal Rescue Centre (ARC), which provides care for and rehomes over 14,000 vulnerable animals each year. The charity has launched a special Christmas appeal to highlight the impact the cost of living crisis is having on pets while raising funds to help it continue to offer free and affordable access to vet care for those on low incomes, as well as caring for pets given up by their owners.
ARC receives no external funding, and its costs have skyrocketed recently, with the charity’s energy bill set to rise by £17,000. At the same time, demand for its outreach services is 54 per cent higher than last year.
To help draw attention to the work it is undertaking in increasingly challenging circumstances, ARC is sharing stories of some of the animals it has helped over the past year that are still looking for their forever home. Speaking about ARC’s Christmas appeal, Dr Damian Pacini, principal vet at ARC, said: “We know that the pressure is on all of us this year, and you're probably feeling the pinch too.
Read More: Cats, rabbits and ferrets at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre looking for a new home this Christmas
"But we're asking all our supporters to give what they can to help us make sure that animals who are stuck in the middle of all this turmoil don't get forgotten this winter.” Scroll down to meet some of the adorable dogs hoping to find a loving owner.
Mr Fox
Mr Fox is a handsome, temperate and affectionate gentleman. Sadly, he injured his leg trying to jump over a 6ft fence. As he is still recovering from his injury, he will have to be kept on a lead for the foreseeable future and will need to come back to see our vets weekly for check-ups.
Mr Fox is a lovely dog that would be best suited to a quieter home with a very secure garden, where he can recuperate and have someone to keep him company and share a few cuddles.
Clover
Clover is an active, clever girl who loves people and playing with her toys, especially balls. She has an extremely high prey drive, so she will need to be muzzled on her walks and kept on a lead. She would, however, love a good run around a secure field to help burn off a bit of that energy. Her new family will need to continue her muzzle training, which is based on food, and as she's very food motivated, she thoroughly enjoys her training. Any potential adopters will be shown how to continue this training at home.
Clover is very affectionate and loves engaging in activities such as agility training. It would benefit her to continue with this after her adoption to keep her mind and body stimulated. She is very intelligent and sweet and would be an ideal companion for any adopter who wants to explore agility or go for long walks in the secluded countryside.
Raven
Raven is a friendly young boy fond of running around and chasing toys. He enjoys spending time with people and will often jump up to try and give hugs. Being a sighthound, Raven has a very high prey drive and will need to wear a muzzle on his walk, but he isn't bothered by this at all. Raven can be dog reactive, so further training will be needed to help him learn to tolerate other dogs when out and about.
Despite his size, Raven is sensitive, especially in traffic, and will try to chase and bark at any passing vehicles. This is why he is looking for a rural home where he can let loose and be his fun-loving self. Raven's perfect day would be running around doing zoomies (in a secure field or large garden), followed by some cuddles and a nap.
Sadie
Sadie is a German Shepherd with a warm, affectionate and friendly disposition. But sadly, she had a difficult start in life and, consequently, will require a female-only home where she can relax and enjoy having lots of company.
She is currently building up her muscle strength and, at the moment, can only go out for short walks a few times a week, which adopters will need to be conscious of. Despite this, Sadie enjoys playing and walking.
Anyone interested in adopting can find more information about the animals looking for homes, as well as conditions and fees, on ARC's website . Donations to ARC's Christmas appeal can be made here.
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