Animals’ Shelter ends dog boarding

Animals’ Shelter ends dog boarding

Barbara Keywood, from the JSPCA, said the decision came as part of a wider review of services offered by the charity.

However, the move has been met with concern online from dog-owners, who say there are not enough kennels available in the Island for boarding.

The charity’s announcement comes after it emerged last year that Pont du Val Kennels – which could host up to 40 dogs at a time – was shutting after 56 years in business. Dianne Du Bois and her sister, Marie Morrin, who co-ran the kennels for 15 years until its closure, were told that their new landlord did not wish to extend the lease.

At the time of Pont du Val’s announcement, several dog owners suggested there would not be enough capacity to meet the demand for dog boarding.

Miss Keywood said although the JSPCA would continue with its cat boarding service it would no longer board dogs.

‘It was running at a loss and there were a lot of times when we didn’t have many boarding,’ she said.

‘Services have had to be looked at to see if any changes have to be made. So far, the closing of dog boarding is the one change we have went ahead with.’

Towards the end of 2018, the JSCPA’s interim chief executive, Kevin Keen – who has been drafted in to help the charity get out of serious financial difficulty – made an urgent plea for donations, saying the shelter faced possible closure unless funds were raised.

Mr Keen, who has developed a reputation as a business fixer, was brought in by the JSPCA for an initial six months to support the committee as it looked to balance its income and expenditure on a sustainable basis

Miss Keywood said: ‘I have seen on social media that there are a lot of people talking about it [the dog boarding closure] now that there are two kennels that have closed.

‘It is unfortunate that it has come about at the same time as Pont du Val closing. It is something that others might look into to see if there are opportunities to look after dogs.

‘Cat boarding is a much busier service but it was unsustainable to continue with dog boarding, as we simply weren’t making enough money from it.’

She added that the JSPCA would continue to honour bookings which had already been made but would not be accepting any further customers.

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