On Thursday, May 2nd, between 12 and 1pm David Pickett, Castlepoint’s centre manager, will officially open the Merlin’s Pet Food Bank at the Community Fridge at the Henry Brown Centre. Castlepoint has generously supported Merlin’s Pet Food Banks since the launch of our Boscombe bank last year, and we are delighted to have their support in stocking West Howe’s Pet Food Bank for its launch day.
To celebrate the official opening, people are invited to come down with their dogs to have a photo taken in the Dorset Dogs CIC kissing booth. Their furry friends can also bob for sausages and have a go at agility, and we will be choosing a dog to eat through a string of sausages while David cuts the red ribbon.
Dogs are not permitted in the Centre, with the exception of assistance dogs, but those without a furry friend can check out the extremely popular community fridge, open 12-2 pm, and Henry’s Café open 10-2 pm.
Since February 2023, Dorset Dogs CIC has opened 12 Merlin’s Pet Food Banks to support the community in BCP, Dorchester, and Weymouth. Over thirty local businesses support the cause by collecting food donations from the general public, and we raise funding by organising fun events for the Dorset dog community.
Created to be a safety net for pet owners during the cost-of-living crisis, the demand for pet food has only increased over the past year, and Dorset Dogs CIC has also supported rescues that are seeing record numbers of pets being relinquished.
2024 looks set to be another challenging year for everyone. A monthly poll run by YouGov for Dogs Trust found that 23% of pet owners are most worried about the cost of dog food and shows that 48% of respondents this month thought they would find it more difficult to give their dog all they needed, compared to before the cost-of-living crisis began.1
Dorset Dogs CIC is committed to ensuring Merlin’s Pet Food Bank continues and can expand to where it is needed most. Our aim is to help keep families together and reduce the pressure on the already over-stretched animal rescue centres. Raising awareness of the important role dogs play in mental health and as a lifeline to many is at the heart of everything we do.
This official launch of the West Howe Pet Food Bank will celebrate the support for the local community and raise much-needed awareness to generate food donations, funding and support for Merlin’s Pet Food Banks.
Financial donations can be made via the website dorsetdogs.com/donate
Food donations can be made at over 30 locations across BCP dorsetdogs.com/donations-points
Amazon food donation wish list www.amazon.co.uk/wishlist/dorset-dogs-CIC
Follow Merlin’s Pet Food Bank on facebook.com/merlinfeedspets
Join our Facebook community group Dog Friendly Dorset https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogfriendlydorset/
Kallum Gethins