Stockport sanctuary owner fears for lives of dogs after being served eviction notice

The Guardian

03-12-2024

The owner of a sanctuary for traumatised dogs has said up to 17 animals will have to be put to sleep unless she can find a new home for them within three weeks.
Chadkirk dog sanctuary in Stockport was served with an eviction notice by the landlord, which means that the premises will need to be vacated by the end of the year.
Ali Clark, who runs the sanctuary, said: 'I just can't cry anymore. I'm just desperate to try and find somewhere to save these dogs.'
'We're hoping that someone, somewhere has got kennels that they're not using, or some buildings, or a redundant farm, something that we can make into our sanctuary.
'We're looking for redundant buildings, barns, stables, anything that can be made into kennels, safe kennels for these dogs.'
The 30 or so dogs who are long-term residents at the sanctuary include Gus, who previously lived in a garage for six years, and Groober, a Romanian mioritic shepherd cross who will not let anyone come near him except for Clark.
Of the dogs, many of which have been abused or neglected in the past, 17 would not be suitable to be rehomed so finding new premises is the only way they can be saved, Clark, 59, said.
Some of the dogs are traumatised, while others have severe anxiety. 'These dogs can't go to anyone else, I know their quirks,' she added.
The sanctuary cannot afford to buy premises, she said, so she is looking for somewhere to rent in Wales or in the neighbouring counties in England.
She lives in Powys, but stays at the sanctuary in Stockport in order to look after the dogs. She set up there because it was the only place she could find during a previous search for a premises.
Clark said she has spent about 10 years looking after dogs with severe behavioural problems, many of them classed as 'unrehomeable'.
'I see the desperate need for sanctuary spaces, and people to take in dogs that have more issues than the average dog,' she said. 'Especially when people's circumstances change, and they can no longer keep their dog, they look at sanctuaries.'
A lack of spaces for dogs in sanctuaries is an issue that has 'definitely, definitely got worse since Covid', particularly as some kennels closed down during the pandemic, she added.
Niz Khan, who runs the London-based charity Animal Adoption International, said that Clark has taken in dogs that she has been unable to rehome.
'She has a heart of gold,' Khan said. 'The dogs have such a good life with her. They really thrive under her care. She gets up at 4am and walks them and she doesn't stop until around 9pm.
'She has one of my dogs, a corgi cross called Michael, who is so lovely, but he's been traumatised, I believe from a noose-type catchpole in Romania, and he bit me. But with Ali he hasn't bitten in four years and he's a happy dog there.'
A GoFundMe has been set up to fund new premises and kennel equipment.