Reflecting on 20 years of kennels

Some of you will remember the ramshackle building that stood for too long, before, in early 2006, Doug Reavley agreed to step in and get things moving. With a keen eye on the costs, he got it finished and BARK officially opened on November 11.

Open by our, now lifetime, president Sir Michael Blake it was certainly an interesting day. There was a good amount of wine drunk and, as for the wind, it was blowing up a storm.

That night was the first night of the gazebo right-off rule – for many years, at every event we managed to, one way or the other, right-off a gazebo at every outdoor event.

Kathleen Dawson and Graeme Reavley and BARK supporters, who refused to give up on BARK, finally saw the results of their determination.

Many supporters were there, some of whom are no longer with us but were all part of BARK’s history and many an animal has them to thank for the happy, loving homes they found.

There have been a lot of animals, well over 10,000 through the doors since then. There’s been many a pup, kitten, bunny and guinea born at kennels and always snapped up, some amazing golden oldies and a good few poorly animals who’ve had to stop with us that bit longer while they recovered.

All of them have had one thing in common, once they came to BARK they were very much wanted. That is down to the support we received and continue to receive. For that we will be eternally grateful.

Our Christmas raffle tickets are now available at various shop in and around the town, including Your Local Blind Man on Bridge Street, the BARK Shop, Direct Pets, Galedin Vets and Ramparts MOT Centre.

At just £1 a ticket or a grab a book of five for £5, one or two for you and may a few to drop into Christmas cards. The draw takes place on Saturday, December 19, in time for Christmas. What a present the first prize would be!

You can find us at: Berwick Animal Rescue Kennels, Windmill Way East, Ramparts Business Park, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1TU; email [email protected]