Anita appeals for help to build her Ballydehob rescue centre

AN animal welfare worker in West Cork has a three-week deadline to raise €12,000 to house 45 unwanted dogs.

Anita Douglas, who is relocating her ‘Skibbereen Animal Rescue’ centre from Skeagh in Skibbereen to Ballydehob, needs to build 18 indoor kennels, measuring 5ft by 10ft, in order to comply with animal welfare legislation. 

Anita, who has been caring for stray and unwanted dogs, cats and horses in West Cork for the last 19 years, said she has been given two 40ft by 15ft structures but they need to be assembled.

‘I am appealing to people who love animals and want to help in their care to volunteer to prepare the concrete base for these two buildings and help with their assembly,’ said Anita.

‘These two buildings should provide adequate accommodation for a number of the dogs, but the money raised will also be needed to pay for the cost of clearing the site with a JCB, preparing the base with hardcore, and lining the buildings with recycled, hardened plastic sheeting, so it is completely washable.’

Anita explained: ‘Each of the new pens will have to be divided with stainless steel dividers, with hardened plastic at the bottom, so the relocation is going to be expensive but worthwhile in the long-run.’

The cost of each of individual kennel is expected to be in the region of €600, but each kennel can be used to accommodate between one and three dogs, depending on size, breed and temperament.

‘We have set €12,000 as our initial fundraising target so we can begin our transition from Skibbereen to Ballydehob as soon as possible,’ said Anita, who has found previous appeals printed in The Southern Star to be beneficial.

She said: ‘It never ceases to amaze me that the people of West Cork are so willing to support projects that offer food and shelter for animals that have been neglected.’

Anita would also like people to know that the new animal rescue centre in Ballydehob will have a 7ft security fence around the one-acre dog compound so locals need have no fear of wandering dogs.

Anyone who would like to offer manual help, or financial support, can contact Anita on 086 8795950, or follow the links on the Skibbereen Animal Rescue website: [email protected]