Tag Pet Rescue based in Margate, Kent, has benefited from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust’s (KCCT) emergency fund, enabling them to continue their rescue work and give abandoned dogs a crucial second chance.
Tag Pet Rescue works with all types and sizes of animals, including cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits and dogs. The organisation saves stray and abandoned dogs, ensuring they receive any veterinary care they need and finding foster families and kennels until a suitable and loving forever home is found for them. The mission of Tag Pet Rescue is to find those dogs sensible and loving owners.
One of the dogs who needed the charity’s help was Lottie, who had been abandoned during lockdown and taken to a council pound in Kent. Lottie had injured one of her legs and appeared to be in physical pain, as well as emotional distress. A veterinary examination found that Lottie had suffered a spine injury, which was causing her leg problems. Tag Pet Rescue arranged laser therapy treatment for Lottie, as well as a temporary foster home in which she could rest and get better.
After regaining her strength and energy, Lottie quickly charmed a retired couple from Sandwich, who put in an adoption request. She now happily lives with her new family, enjoying pain-free walks thanks to her treatment.
Like other rescue organisations, Tag Pet Rescue was affected by the pandemic. The organisation had to close its charity shops in March and has only opened them up recently with restricted capacity. Whilst the charity continued to save abandoned dogs and care for them despite the pandemic, this had a huge financial impact.
Debbie Channing, trustee at Tag Pet Rescue said: “We are very grateful to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust for their funding which helped us during our most difficult times. It enabled us to help deserving dogs like Lottie and many others.”
The KCCT Emergency Relief Initiative, which was established in April, was set up to support canine organisations which may be suffering and unable to continue their vital work, which makes a huge difference to dogs, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. All of the applications were considered carefully and funding was allocated to 30 organisations in the most urgent situation.
Other recipients of funds from the KCCT include breed rescue organisations such as the Northern Ireland Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club and Greyhound Rescue, as well as other general smaller dog rescue organisations, such as Friends of Animals Wales - the charity from which Boris Johnson rehomed Dilyn, the Jack Russell Terrier.
Revd. Bill King, Chairman of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust said: “We received a significant number of applications for our emergency funding and had to make some very hard decisions on where funds need to be placed as a matter of urgency.
“Keeping these organisations, which take care of health, welfare and future of dogs from all breeds and backgrounds, functional is a priority for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust. We know that most of smaller organisations depend on funding to keep up their excellent work that save dogs’ lives and want to ensure they can continue despite the pandemic.
“We are also grateful for Our Dogs newspaper’s help with our appeal which helped to grow awareness about our fund amongst their readers who have so far donated over £40,000.”
To donate online to the KCCT relief fund and help dogs, volunteers and organisations across the country during this difficult time, visit the Virgin Money Giving website at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/KCCT. Alternatively, you can make a donation by text. Simply text ‘KCCT [amount]’ to 70450 to donate the desired amount. For example, if you wish to donate £30, simply text ‘KCCT 30’ to 70450. You will be charged your donation plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about the work of the KCCT and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to make a donation but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text ‘KCCTNOINFO [amount]’ to 70450.