 |
Hope - just one of the dogs we have been able to help.
|
 |
Why Hope needed a coat
|
The Pet Craft Project came into being because members of a small, local community craft group, and who owned dogs, began making their own coats and other equipment in order to get the quality and styles they wanted for themselves. After members found themselves frequently being stopped in the street or on walks with their dogs and being asked where they bought their dogs' clothing, it was decided to start making items to order and as a means to enable the group to donate additional items to benefit dogs in the care of rescue organisations. Initially the items made by the members of the project were offered for sale at local dog shows and events, also at car boot sales. These proved extremely popular, enabling the members (most of whom are older people, retired or with disabilities) to utilise their skills, and the benefits of having something useful and worthwhile to do were soon felt by the members. Indeed, it is very rewarding to be able to contribute to worthwhile causes close to their hearts.In no time people with dogs were approaching the group's members to ask for special designs and made to measure items, as were some rescue organisations with dogs that had specific injury or operation sites. This led to additional designs being created - even some to supporters own specifications and drawings. Gradually the effects of long-term ill health reduced the project's membership to just four people, so we decided to open an online forum and encourage other rescue centre support groups to form and to share patterns, designs and ideas, as well as resouces, in order to aid more animals, especially dogs, that are in the care of rescue organisations within the UK.
On 12th January 2005 we gained our 700th member and the online community is, perhaps, one of the friendliest on the internet. Each week we are able to send out a variety of quiz prizes won by members to rescues, besides other donated items to help.
|
) 
