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The
History of
The Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Society
In 2006 I was working as a Dog Warden/Animal Welfare Officer for Coventry City Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council and was collecting stray dogs on a daily basis and taking them to a pound where they had 7 days for their owner to collect them. If their owner did not collect them, they would go up for rehoming. If no-one adopted them by a certain time, they would be destroyed. Some of these dogs were only getting 10 days to find a new home as the stray population was increasing and the pound needed room to fit more in. I decided that something needed to be done to reduce the dogs being destroyed and find a better way of giving dogs a second chance at finding a new home.
In June 2006 I took on a dog that was destined for death row, he was head shy and afraid, I took him home. With nowhere to put him and with him being dog aggressive with my dog, I found him somewhere to stay and with help from other rescuers, was able to find him a home. With my job as an Animal Welfare Officer, lots of dogs were coming my way including abandoned puppies and RSPCA cases. Somehow I took them home and found them places that would take them on and rehome them. I am eternally grateful to the rescues that helped me during that time period.
Something seemed to be missing in what I was doing and it was the rehoming part, the rescue bit came natural to me, but I wanted to see where the animals were going and I wanted to stay in touch. In 2007 the official title of the charity, The Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation society was born, this is often shortened to T.A.R.R.S.
One day at a dog rescue fete in the summer of 2006, I had met a lady who had retired in rescuing dogs but still had resident dogs and cats that could not be rehomed; she offered me a few kennels so that I could work with the dogs while still finding new homes. I set out to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome unwanted dogs, whether they were strays, abandonments or behavioural cases from owners who couldn't manage the behavioural problems from my dog training and behaviour company D4 Dog Training & Behaviour. I started doing it first in their original homes and was advertising them on my website and in local papers. I had to give up D4 as I wanted to put my time into the charity and I was already working around the clock and I just didn’t have time.
This has expanded greatly since then; now have dogs coming in all the time. All of these dogs are now safe until they find a home. I started off with 5 kennels, the kennel owner to help clean and myself to rescue, rehabilitate, home check and rehome. Today I have 15 kennels, two foster homes and 12 volunteers to help walk, clean the kennels and help with fundraising. I only work for Stratford-on-Avon District Council now and mainly take in Stratford strays, abandonments, abuse cases and death row dogs from other pounds when we have room.
Earlier this year there was a shortage of space in rescues for cats and kittens in Warwickshire. The charity decided that it needed to start helping cats and kittens and a small area was made for them. There were also a cry for help over the population of feral cats, so together with A.B.C (Animal Birth Control) another animal charity that neuters feral cats, we helped in trapping, neutering and returning these cats to their barns.
The money that gets raised on fundraising events goes towards neutering, food, vet checks including de-fleaing and worming, operations and kennelling fees. The charity is also bringing in microchipping as a standard for all animals that come into the sanctuary at the end of this year.
The Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Society
In 2006 I was working as a Dog Warden/Animal Welfare Officer for Coventry City Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council and was collecting stray dogs on a daily basis and taking them to a pound where they had 7 days for their owner to collect them. If their owner did not collect them, they would go up for rehoming. If no-one adopted them by a certain time, they would be destroyed. Some of these dogs were only getting 10 days to find a new home as the stray population was increasing and the pound needed room to fit more in. I decided that something needed to be done to reduce the dogs being destroyed and find a better way of giving dogs a second chance at finding a new home.
In June 2006 I took on a dog that was destined for death row, he was head shy and afraid, I took him home. With nowhere to put him and with him being dog aggressive with my dog, I found him somewhere to stay and with help from other rescuers, was able to find him a home. With my job as an Animal Welfare Officer, lots of dogs were coming my way including abandoned puppies and RSPCA cases. Somehow I took them home and found them places that would take them on and rehome them. I am eternally grateful to the rescues that helped me during that time period.
Something seemed to be missing in what I was doing and it was the rehoming part, the rescue bit came natural to me, but I wanted to see where the animals were going and I wanted to stay in touch. In 2007 the official title of the charity, The Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation society was born, this is often shortened to T.A.R.R.S.
One day at a dog rescue fete in the summer of 2006, I had met a lady who had retired in rescuing dogs but still had resident dogs and cats that could not be rehomed; she offered me a few kennels so that I could work with the dogs while still finding new homes. I set out to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome unwanted dogs, whether they were strays, abandonments or behavioural cases from owners who couldn't manage the behavioural problems from my dog training and behaviour company D4 Dog Training & Behaviour. I started doing it first in their original homes and was advertising them on my website and in local papers. I had to give up D4 as I wanted to put my time into the charity and I was already working around the clock and I just didn’t have time.
This has expanded greatly since then; now have dogs coming in all the time. All of these dogs are now safe until they find a home. I started off with 5 kennels, the kennel owner to help clean and myself to rescue, rehabilitate, home check and rehome. Today I have 15 kennels, two foster homes and 12 volunteers to help walk, clean the kennels and help with fundraising. I only work for Stratford-on-Avon District Council now and mainly take in Stratford strays, abandonments, abuse cases and death row dogs from other pounds when we have room.
Earlier this year there was a shortage of space in rescues for cats and kittens in Warwickshire. The charity decided that it needed to start helping cats and kittens and a small area was made for them. There were also a cry for help over the population of feral cats, so together with A.B.C (Animal Birth Control) another animal charity that neuters feral cats, we helped in trapping, neutering and returning these cats to their barns.
The money that gets raised on fundraising events goes towards neutering, food, vet checks including de-fleaing and worming, operations and kennelling fees. The charity is also bringing in microchipping as a standard for all animals that come into the sanctuary at the end of this year.
Future Goals
My current aim is to provide better facilities for the dogs. I recently helped build a paddock of their own to run around in so that I do not upset the routine of the other dogs too much while working with them.
T.A.R.R.S has
now decided that in the next two years it would like to raise enough funds to buy its own kennels. This is a massive
task but could see it happening with the help of everyone who is interested in raising money to support the charity.
Please help us raise enough funds to secure T.A.R.R.S for life and carry on vital work saving these animals.
For information on Sponsorship of dogs, Fundraising, Legacies and Donations please contact 0773 444 2785 or t.a.r.r.s@hotmail.co.uk.
For information on Sponsorship of dogs, Fundraising, Legacies and Donations please contact 0773 444 2785 or t.a.r.r.s@hotmail.co.uk.
Wish List
Thank you to the wonderful gifts recieved so far from Woof Beginnings and House of Zed.
A new List: Fleeces, Kongs,
Toys, Treats like Tripe Sticks and Pigs Ears and anything with low colourings/wheat and gluten free and organic.
If you would like to support any of the work from the Future Goals or the Wish List, you can either donate money, fundraise on behalf of The Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation society or help with building resources. Please get in touch if you are interested.
Founded by Sophie Peacock: 10 years working with rescue, boarding and quarantine animals. NVQ Level 2 in buisness Administration, Grooming certificate at Moreton Morrell, Distinction in Canine Psychology and Advanced Instructor Training at the Animal Care College, Microchip Implant and Dog Wardens Training at Bicton college, CNEA 2005 with Inhouse Legal Training. CRB Checked. Member of NDWA. Currently doing NVQ Level 3 in Animal Welfare and Animal Communication with Joanne Hull.
Sophie Peacock - Founder of The Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Society
0773 444 2785 / t.a.r.r.s@hotmail.co.uk
