Cookie enjoying the recent snow
Written by Marion Garnett for publication in the West London Gazette
I’ve regularly stayed in a hotel which, in my opinion, isn’t clean. The dining area is fine but the bedrooms aren’t, especially the floors. You may ask why, if it’s grubby, do I continue to stay there. The answer is that my husband thinks it’s spotlessly clean and absolutely fine. It’s also cheap. And, to help his case, the owner couldn’t be more welcoming.
The welcome is always important when you go and stay somewhere. Some readers may know what it’s like to stay somewhere you don’t feel welcome.
There’s no doubt that animals in the care of the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) rehoming centre feel welcome.
Any reader who follows NAWT on social media will have seen the fabulous photos of excited dogs being lovingly taken on extended country walks during lockdown and pictures of them playing happily in the recent snow.
But although, when the dogs arrive at the centre, the welcome they receive couldn’t be warmer – the Admission Block could. All new dogs arriving at the centre have a short stay in the admission kennels where they are quarantined from the rest of the animals and welfare needs are assessed.
Dogs are, at this time, likely to be particularly frightened and cowering, unsure of what is happening to them. Although the kennels are, of course, spotlessly clean, they are very old.
The centre, itself, is 50 years old this year and the admission kennels are now beyond repair.
Consequently, NAWT are raising funds to build 12 new dog kennels specifically for new arrivals.
If you’d like to contribute, one way you can do this is by buying tickets for their Fiftieth Anniversary Raffle. They have many fantastic prizes including a £500 voucher off any Luxury Cottages booking. For details of prizes and tickets, see nawt.org.uk.
Cookie has done her time in Admission Block but has now graduated to a kennel down the yard.
This three year old Lurcher was found wandering the streets where she was picked up by the Dog Warden. She is very friendly and loves cuddles but also loves to run and play with toys.
She is looking for an experienced owner who is home all day to continue her training and who understands she could take a long time to settle in. Cookie could possibly live with a male dog of similar size to her.
If you would like to give a warm welcome to Cookie in your home, see details at nawt.org.uk or call 020 8950 0177.
The West London Gazette covers areas including but not limited to Harefield, Hayes, Ruislip, West Drayton and Uxbridge in West London.
