Last updated at 17:21, Thursday, 21 June 2012

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SAVING dogs from Death Row and giving them a second chance in life – that’s the aim of a rescue and re-homing centre at Pica.

Sharon and Joe Rogers own the Tutehill Dog Rescue and Re-homing Centre where they care for stray dogs who need a good home.

The couple say they have “broken the mould” as they believe animals should be given a second chance of life.

Stray dogs picked up by Copeland Council’s dog wardens are brought to the centre, where they are kept for eight days so the owners can be contacted. The usual procedure is that the council would pay for dogs to be looked after for eight days. After that, unclaimed dogs are usually put to sleep.

Sharon said: “We have broken the mould. How could we keep them, look after them and then after eight days allow them to be put to sleep? We pay out of our own pockets to look after the dogs. We usually ask for a donation of £70 to £100 from people when we re-home them.

She says: “We try to suit the dog to the person. We find them a home where there will stay for life. Most of them have had a rotten start to their life and we want to give the best possible life they can have. Different lifestyles will suit different dogs.”

For the last 12 months, the centre has been taking in stray dogs as well as running their kennels and cattery. In that time, they have had 143 dogs stay in the rescue centre, around 80 of which have been re-homed and the remainder have been collected by their owners.

Currently there are nine dogs that need re-homing.

“Every one of the dogs we look after at the moment has a great temperament,” said Sharon.

A litter of kittens and their mother are also being cared for at the centre after they were found in a Asda basket with a blanket around them a month ago.

Sharon said: “We looked after two dogs once who had been tied to a lamppost. It’s shocking that people in this day and age go to these lengths to get rid of an animal. The animals haven’t done anything wrong.

“There is a lot of genuine lost dogs. Some dogs are suited to some people.

I don’t care how much its costs us. If a dog needs fed, it needs fed. If it needs treatment at the vets, we pay out.”

During the visit to the kennels by The Whitehaven News, Copeland Council’s dog warden brought in a springer cross collie dog which had been found. It was not micro-chipped, but it was collected by its owner later that day.

Sharon said Copeland Council will contact the kennels to say an animal has come in. They will bring the animal to Tutehill and the dog will be allocated a number and put in kennels. If the dogs are micro-chipped, Tutehill will immediately contact the owners to come and collect the pet.

Sharon said: “We definitely encourage micro-chipping.”

Once a dog has been re-homed, the centre also offers to microchip the dog for free and offer a neutering voucher to the new owners.

In a bid to raise awareness and funds for the rescue centre, a fundraising day is set to take place on July 14 at Seacote Hotel, St Bees, between 12pm until 5pm.

There will be several events taking place including a companion dog show, free micro-chipping by Copeland Council. There will also be a selection of activities from face-painting to meeting Tutehill’s baby goats.

The money raised will go towards the cost of looking after the dogs.

Sharon and Joe work with a team of people including administrator Anne Cook, apprentices Katie Nicholson and Jade McCormick. Jessica Greenop is a kennel assistant and Raegan McKay is a supervisor.

FOR more information about the centre, go to the Facebook group Tutehill Rescue and Re-homing Centre or call Sharon on 01946 833502.

THE Seacote Hotel at St Bees is hosting a family fun day on July 14 to raise funds for the centre.

Tickets are £6 for adults, £4 for children and entry for children aged four and under is free. Tickets include a buffet available from the hotel between 12pm and 2pm. For more information, or to book, contact Sharon on 01946 833502 or the Seacote Hotel on 01946 822300.

First published at 11:10, Thursday, 21 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk