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Beneficiaries Ark Gathers Dogs In Spain A Spanish dog sanctuary is a step nearer building a new kennel to help care for abandoned dogs in Javea, Costa Blanca, thanks to a £400 donation from Ashley’s Ark. Ashley’s mum, Dawn Sammons, discovered the dog sanctuary, run by the Association for the Protection of Animals (APASA), while on holiday and set about fundraising to help buy a desperately needed kennel. She said: “APASA cares for over 500 abandoned dogs every year, often from ex-pats who return home and leave their animals behind. It was clear that the charity does so much to raise its own funds but many kennels needed repairing and replacing and Ashley’s Ark was keen to help.” APASA fundraiser in Spain Maggie Shuck issued a ‘heartfelt thanks’ to people in the UK who had contributed and said the kennel would have Ashley’s name on it. Dawn and other trustees from Ashley’s Ark are to visit Spain again in May and will hold a bingo in Moraira to raise further funds for the APASA.
APASA helper Wieteke Oosterhaven (left), Dawn Sammons and Maggie Shuck with rescue dog Quentin.
Aid To Thai Street Dogs Ashley’s Ark has contributed £1,000 to the Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket, Thailand, to help it set up a new Education Centre. We are delighted that the Charity has chosen to call it The Ashley Sammons Education Centre.
The Soi Dog Foundation aims to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats and to better the lives and living conditions of the street and stray dogs and feral cats in Thailand, currently focused on the island of Phuket. There are at least 120,000 street dogs in Bangkok.
There are no government or charitable agencies to protect animals from abuse – only a few local animal lovers who house large numbers of them, using their own funds and manpower. Laws governing responsible animal ownership or animal abuse don’t exist. There are no humane shelters. Culling by strychnine poisoning is a shocking reality. Many are slaughtered for dog meat and cat fur, where the method of slaughter is slow and inhumane. The Education Centre has a big part to play in encouraging people, especially young people, to take a more active role in promoting the welfare of dogs and cats in Thailand.
Monkey Business
It will have plaques explaining everything and will also have guided tours to place the emphasis on teaching people of all ages about the rainforest, it’s destruction and empowering them to save it.
The station will
have fun things for young children to discover, they will have a list of things
they have to find in the cage, making it interesting for them, as well as
educational tools to have a long term impact on them. The station will have many items listed for older kids as well as adults. The centre is a Sanctuary that will be open to the public, hopefully by February 1, 2009, with its own full time vet.
To find out more go to www.kidssavingtherainforest.org
Woodgate Valley
Urban Farm We have worked with Woodgate Valley Urban Farm on producing an educational pack for schools, to help them in their work with young people. We have also sponsored Suzie 2, the pygmy goat, Ting-Tong the sheep and a group of ducks called ‘the runners’. To find out more about this inner city farm, visit: www.wvurbanfarm.org.uk
The RSPCA We are doing our bit to try and re-home unwanted hens, encouraging people to turn their backs on battery farmed eggs in favour of those laid by properly cared for hens. To find out more about re-homing an unwanted hen, visit the RSPCA at Block Fen, Wimblington or call them on 0300 123 0726.
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The Trustees have
agreed to donate $5,000 to a project in Costa Rica called Kids Saving the
Rainforest, following a visit by Trustees Steve and Cheryl Powell during a
holiday in 2008. The money will help the project build an animal station to
protect the endangered Titi Monkey, which is indigenous to the area. The Titis
have been on the United Nation’s Red list since 1997, and there are only 1500
–1700 of these monkeys in the world, all located in this area. 
This station will
be open to the public, but will be especially geared to kids. The exhibition
will have Titi monkeys that can never be released due to permanent injuries such
as electrocution on overhead power lines. The station will be a very powerful
example to the public about the impact of humans on the rainforest and the
wildlife.
