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Roden, Telford
DOGS TRUST SHREWSBURY ACHIEVES THE HIGHEST EVER POST CONSTRUCTION SUSTAINABILITY RATING IN THE WORLDDogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity has announced that their state of the art Shrewsbury rehoming centre has received the highest ever post-construction rating in the world from BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) and was recently recognised for this at an awards ceremony.
Inbuilt, [the RES Group company offering renewable energy and buildings sustainability advice to public and private sector organizations] worked closely with Dogs Trust to design the rehoming centre to the highest possible levels of sustainability to create an enriched environment for the dogs.
Louise Campbell, Dogs Trust Shrewsbury rehoming centre manager explains:
“The staff and I are absolutely thrilled to see the rehoming centre recognised with such a prestigious award; a huge achievement. At Dogs Trust Shrewsbury we have continued to successfully rehome dogs into the community, and we now do so whilst reducing our carbon footprint. The dogs have certainly given the new building two paws up!”
Some of the design features of the rehoming centre include:
· Air tightness – the rehoming centre has been designed to minimise cold and hot air loss.
· Solar energy –. A system using the sun has been installed at the centre, made up of panels providing a large proportion of the centre’s energy needs
· Rainwater harvesting – the rehoming centre features a system that collects rainwater that falls on the roof of the main rehoming building and uses it to supply water for washing down kennels, watering the green roof, for use in the washing machine and the WhoopsieAway (the system used to transport dog sewage to the Sewage Treatment Plant)
· Ventilation – natural systems have been harnessed throughout the building wherever possible, particularly daylight and ventilation, to reduce the electrical load on the building during its operation
· Grass roof – the centre includes a grass roof totalling 750 sq metres, featuring native plant species and contributing to the building's insulation.
Matthew Taylor, Dogs Trust property director, said:
“We are delighted by the recognition that Dogs Trust Shrewsbury has received. We invested significantly in the centre which, through the life of the building, will significantly reduce our operational expenditure. As well as the financial and environmental benefits, the new centre will be a more welcoming and comfortable home for the 140 dogs and puppies we have in at any one time.”
Top Barks for Dogs Trust
New Dogs Trust Education Officer brings dog safety knowledge to local schools
Alison Donald, Dogs Trust Education Officer Shropshire
Does your child know how to say hello to a dog and understand about what is involved with staying safe around one of our four-legged friends? Thanks to the Dogs Trust Education Officer Alison Donald, over 3,000 school children in Shropshire now understand how to be a responsible around dogs.
Alison visits schools around the county to engage with children aged 7-11 years old and has already visited 26 schools around Shropshire and Staffordshire and carried out 75 workshops since she started in May last year.
Says Alison Donald, Dogs Trust Shrewsbury Education Officer:
“Children are the dog owners of the future and it is so important to work with them to ensure they understand what a happy healthy dog needs. From the less glamorous side of things like poop scooping to the fun elements of training and teaching a dog new skills and tricks, a dog can bring so much to everyone’s life and become a lifelong companion for any age. The children have been so receptive to the workshops and it’s really enjoyable teaching them and helping them understand more about owning a dog, fingers crossed we’ll be helping to shape some great dog owners.”
Dogs Trust has been educating the dog owners of the future for over nine years, engaging with children through interactive lessons and workshops. Whether highlighting the importance of responsible dog ownership or offering tips on how to stay safe around dogs, the sessions build children’s confidence and knowledge. For some children the visits from Dogs Trust help them overcome their fears of dogs, and dispel common myths about how intimidating they can be.
Across the UK a team of 12 Education Officers has delivered the message about responsible dog ownership to over 470,000 7-11 year olds in the last nine years.
The education workshops run throughout the school year and several holiday classes are also arranged over the seasonal breaks. To find out more information about the work of the Education Officers please visit www.learnwithdogs.co.uk.
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