Kennel workers to climb Snowdon for rescue dogs

Supporters of a dog rescue centre near Shrewsbury are preparing to climb Mount Snowdon three times in one day, to raise money for rising veterinary costs which are placing increasing pressure on the charity.

Kieron Weaver will tackle the challenge on Saturday, carrying a 35lb (16kg) backpack while aiming to raise £2,000 for Hilbrae Rescue Kennels.

The rescue centre, based at Oaklands Farm near Shawbury, cares for stray and abandoned dogs from across Shropshire.

The climb comes a year after the charity launched an appeal to help fund improvements to ageing kennel facilities and fencing at the site.

Weaver, who volunteers at the kennels, said the challenge was being undertaken to help support the dogs in the charity's care.

He said: "We're aiming for around £2,000 [as] a nice target - any more than that is a bonus."

He will be joined by his colleague, Jim Brace. The pair previously attempted a 100-mile walk in just 24 hours for the charity earlier this year.

The pair will begin their climb at 05:00 BST and hope to finish around 12 hours later.

They also plan to take a small number of rescue dogs with them.

Weaver said he had been training for the challenge by running and walking with his dogs, as well as spending time climbing the Wrekin.

He said: "I've been training, I've been doing a lot of walking. I've been doing running beforehand, so hopefully I'll be fit for this one."

The money raised will help the rescue centre continue caring for dogs that arrive needing medical treatment.

Marty Burrell, who runs the kennels, said veterinary bills were among the charity's biggest expenses.

She said: "Just a dog having a cut foot can be £150, £200. A lot of people just can't afford it. They can't afford insurance either.

"So then they finish up with a dog that's injured, or got really bad skin, or got bad eyes, or whatever, and they abandon them."

Burrell said some dogs arrived with serious conditions that had been left untreated, including broken legs, severe skin complaints and eye problems.

She said: "We can't leave a dog suffering. We've got to get it treated."

Although she said the charity continued to meet its costs, every large veterinary bill delayed other improvements at the site.

She said: "We don't get into debt. We don't do things unless we can afford them.

"If you've got that bill that's for hundreds of pounds, then that puts you back a little way for what you were going to do with that money, but it's got to be done."

Despite the challenges, Weaver said helping dogs find new homes made the work worthwhile.

He said: "It's nice to see the dogs get re-homed after what they've been through."

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