Snug as a pug in a rug

Dogs in Christchurch’s animal shelter are wrapped up warm after the community answered the call for bedding donations.

A post on the Council’s Facebook asking for spare blankets for the shelter was viewed by tens of thousands of residents with donators reaching out from across Christchurch and beyond.

Animal Services Manager Lionel Bridger says the shelter was overwhelmed with the community’s response.

“We had hundreds of messages, calls and people coming into the shelter within the first hour of the post going up,” Mr Bridger says.

The shelter relies on donations for blankets and bedding and had been running low due to the current influx of dogs.

“We know dogs are more than just pets, and with the generosity our community has shown, it’s clear our residents know that too,” Mr Bridger says.

The Facebook post had donators reaching out from across the North and South Island, spanning from New Plymouth to Ashburton.

“We even had a delivery of dog beds and blankets addressed to the shelter that arrived all the way from Blenheim!” Mr Bridger says.

Mr Bridger says this is a win-win and diverts waste from landfill while giving old items a second life as pet blankets.

“We had donations from organisations including the SPCA and Christchurch City Mission Op Shop who brought in excess items of their own,” Mr Bridger says.

The City Mission donated bags of linen, blankets, towels and bedding that were unable to sold in store or included in free bedding packs.

“We’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who donated. The team at the shelter – and our dogs – are blown away by the generosity of our community,” Mr Bridger says.

“We are now well stocked with blankets for our dogs and don’t need anything more at this stage.”

Christchurch City Mission Op Shop are still looking for donations of blankets, towels and bedding in excellent condition to be sold in store or included in free bedding and linen packs for those in need.