Eleven of us met at Redbeck Cafe at 09:30 on Sunday 20th March for our 7th annual Pet Food run to Wakefield based charity pet rescues. The numbers were slightly down on last year (but only by 3), which we blame on a clash with the Squires Easter Egg Run. This is the first year it has fallen on the same date as we invariably hold our pet food run on the 3rd Sunday in March, and Easter is not normally this early.
Following fried breakfast products at Redbeck, we saddled up and set off at 10:00, for our first port of call, the new RSPCA rescue centre at East Ardsley (in what used to be Foxholes boarding Kennels). This was our first visit to their new centre as previously they had been based in the old MyPetStop site in nearby Tingley.
We donated our doggie treat donations, then were treated to a tour of the new facility.
The new site is very impressive, a lot of it newly built (the old Foxholes kennels, weren't, shall we say, plush), good facilities for the animals and plenty of room to expand if they need it.
In addition to dogs, they also rehome cats and rabbits.
After a good chat with the RSPCA Officers, we bade our farewells, and saddled up for the very short journey to our next port of call, Whitehall Dog Rescue, a mere half mile away.
We were greeted by Brian and a few of the residents who had been enjoying a morning walkies.
We dropped off our dog food donations, together with the proceeds of the run raffle which Chas had held (towards vets bills).
Brian gave us all a guided tour of the centre and a very knowledgeable potted history of all the dogs in need of new Mum's & Dad's.
Whitehall has the benefit of a huge enclosed field which is used to exercise the dogs. For those who really do need an awful lot of exercise, Brian has a new toy at his disposal - a drone which the dogs race round trying to catch until they are suitably knackered, great fun to watch but surprisingly practical in it's application.
Following a good chat with Brian, we then all made our seperate ways home.
It was a great first rideout of the year for the branch, in rather nice weather (we always seem to have blue skies for our pet food run - it hasn't rained once in the 7 years we have hosted this event). It's also a jolly decent thing to do, helping 2 local charities with the great work they do rehoming pets for whatever reasons are temporarily homeless (and if not rescued, often at risk of being destroyed).
A huge thanks to everyone who attended and donated cash, dog food and other doggie related items, for the Charity run.
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RSPCA Leeds and Wakefield District Animal Rescue
The RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield and District Branch promotes kindness and prevents cruelty to animals in the local area. They are a separately registered branch of the RSPCA and are primarily responsible for raising their own funds locally, relying heavily on the funds generated by their own network of charity shops and the tireless fundraising in the community, without which they would be unable to carry on their important animal welfare activities in the district. |
Whitehall Dog Rescue
Whitehall Dog Rescue was set up by Brian Wheelhouse in 1992 after finding out that stray and unwanted dogs collected by dog wardens or handed in to the police had a very short time to live if they didn't find a home (7 days). Brian ran a motorcycle and car sales business in Leeds and decided to try and help the plight of these poor unwanted dogs, so he converted part of his showroom and built in kennels to accommodate his new guests. A licence was sought from Leeds City council to make sure kennels came to specification. These kennels were used right up to 2004 and helped saved the lives of hundreds of dogs. The dog rescue became a full time operation and relocated to a farm in East Ardsley in Wakefield where he continues to rescue dogs from death row. The dogs are looked after until loving and caring homes can be found. Whitehall became a registered charity in September 2009. |
