The country’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, has announced exclusively to MM that they have been given the go ahead to create Dogs Trust Manchester.
The charity was granted planning permission by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in May to create a rehoming centre for the hundreds of stray and abandoned dogs found in Manchester.
The site, in Denton, was previously occupied by MyPetStop which provided boarding and other services for dogs and cats including a veterinary practice.
A spokeswoman for Dogs Trust said: “At the moment Dogs Trust’s activity in the Greater Manchester area is limited, although it is likely to increase as we have just had planning permission granted to create a Dogs Trust Manchester.”
Dogs Trust will build two new kennel buildings accommodating 61 dogs, with associated exercise areas.
The kennels will lead straight out to exercise runs which will consist of rock caves, paddling pools, curved run-through popes and maze walls with treat shelves.
It is hoped that these runs will keep dogs happy, inquisitive and stimulated.
As well as large open exercise areas the site will include an enclosed dog walking strip around the site which will be used to train dogs on leads.
Visitors to the kennels will be able to view the dogs in their exercise areas via a viewing platform and walkway on the first floor level.
A building surveyor from Peter Napier and Co Ltd said in the planning application: “It will create a valuable facility for the community taking in stray and unwanted dogs and matching the dogs which deserve a loving home with people who desire a loyal pet.”
Dogs Trust hope that the new centre will help relieve the growing number of stray dogs in the area – the centre is due to open in the summer of 2014.
Pictures courtesy of eposos.de, Chris Chapman and Alex Balan, with thanks.
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