Ferne Animal Sanctuary is celebrating after the “New Digs for Dogs” appeal in aid of their £1million project for 2014/15 recently reached the £100,000 milestone.
The Sanctuary launched the project in March this year to build a new enhanced kennel block, improved grooming and veterinary care room, information hub, social unit, offices, reception and purpose built rehoming centre at their site in Wambrook, Chard, Somerset.
While £500,000 has been saved from various sources over many years towards the project, the charity still needs to raise the remaining £500,000 through donations.
Patricia Gardner-Harper, Acting Director of Ferne Animal Sanctuary said: “The response from the general public, businesses and our supporters has been nothing short of amazing. We reached the first milestone of £50,000 in June, so to have reached the second at such an early stage is quite incredible.”
Fundraising activities have included a head-shave at Ferne’s recent Family Fun Day, Ferne’s first Music Festival at Haselbury Mill, bingo nights, colour and style workshops, coffee mornings and school tuck shops.
Patricia continued: “Everyone at Ferne is so grateful for the support being received, it’s overwhelming. But there is still a long way to go to reach our target of £500,000 before the end of 2015, so I appeal to everyone to please continue to donate – and have great fun with their fund-raising events.
“I’d also like to encourage everyone to come and visit the Sanctuary to see the progress being made on the new re-homing centre. Everyone here is very excited at the moment as the roof has just gone on!”
Fundraising packs for the appeal and details of how to donate can be obtained by calling Ferne Animal Sanctuary on 01460 65214 or by visiting www.ferneanimalsanctuary.org
About Ferne Animal Sanctuary:
1. Set in 51 acres of glorious Somerset countryside, Ferne Animal Sanctuary is home to over 300 domestic animals, farm animals and birds.
2. Founded in 1939 by the late Nina, Duchess of Hamilton and Brandon, Ferne Animal Sanctuary originally looked after the pets of servicemen and women who were going away to fight for their country.
3. Apart from rehomed dogs and cats, horses are fostered. All other creatures stay at Ferne for the rest of their lives.
4. No healthy animal is ever put down.
5. Animals are rehomed within a 40 mile radius of the site, including Dorset, Somerset and Devon.
6. Ferne are registered as Ferne Animal Sanctuary, Wambrook, Near Chard, Somerset, TA20 3DH – Charitable Trust No: 245671
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