WEST END STAR HELPS KEEP CANINES COSY
Jodie Prenger hands out Dogs Trust hampers for homeless people’s dogs at a St Mungo’s hostel
West End star and Dogs Trust supporter, Jodie Prenger, visited a St Mungo’s hostel today to hand out the first of 850 Dogs Trust Christmas Hampers being given to the dogs of homeless people and those in temporary accommodation across the UK. Receiving one of the hampers today was Sam the Samoyed, belonging to Michael Lyon, a current resident at a St Mungo’s hostel in Covent Garden.
Since September people up and down the country have knitted dog coats for the Christmas Hampers as part of Dogs Trust’s “Keep Canines Cosy” campaign. The charity was inundated with the hand made dog coats, receiving a total of 3,000 which ranged in size from Chihuahua to Great Dane. The coats are included in the special hampers with a variety of essentials such as new leads, collars, treats and toys.
Jodie Prenger comments:
“As a dog lover myself, I am delighted to deliver the first of the 850 Dogs Trust Christmas Hampers. Homeless people love their dogs and many would rather go without to be able to feed their best friend, so these goodies will be well received and ensure that the dogs get everything they need to stay warm and happy over the winter months.”
Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has been distributing Christmas Hampers to dogs whose owners are homeless or living in temporary accommodation for the last 11 years as part of its ongoing Hope Project. As well as offering subsidised veterinary treatments and the Canine Christmas Hampers, the project also encourages homelessness hostels and day centres to accept clients with dogs and helps them put in place practical guidelines. Often homeless people choose to stay with their dog on the streets if a hostel doesn’t allow dogs to stay as well.
St Mungo’s is one of the few charities that allows homeless men and women to keep their pets with them in its hostels.
Homelessness organisations or veterinary surgeries interested in finding out more information about the Hope Project should call Dogs Trust on 020 7837 0006 or email hopeproject@dogstrust.org.uk.