ST FRANCIS DOGS HOME ANNOUNCES REVISED SITE PLANS

TO CONTINUE ITS CARE AND SUPPORT FOR RESCUE DOGS IN CORNWALL

St Francis Dogs Home, a well-known and loved dog rehoming Charity located in Porth, Newquay, has submitted a revised planning application to Cornwall Council in order to re-open its site and continue the care and safety of dogs in the local area.

The proposed site plans, which are currently undergoing the Council’s verification process before being published on its website, have been revised to cater for the Charity’s fostering model and will include:

• A block of 10 replacement kennels with runs and an attached food prep / utility room
• Two isolation kennels and run with food prep/utility area 
• An administration building which will include a welcoming reception area, offices and staff facilities as well as an overnight studio to enable members of staff to stay overnight
• The existing training hall will remain

The site will also benefit from having Edhen Vets, which has recently moved into Beaver Lodge, and will provide St Francis’ dogs, as well as other dogs within the community, with access to on-site support which minimises distress caused by car travel.

Anthony Kinder, Chair of St Francis Dogs Home says, “We are pleased to have been able to submit the revised site plans which will allow us to fully meet the needs of the dogs both through our fostering model and the kennels.

“The rescue sector has changed drastically over the past couple of years as a result of the pandemic and one of our main priorities at St Francis has been to ensure that we are providing dogs with the support they need which reflects the current climate. 

“Although fostering will continue to be our main focus for the Charity, we will still require kennels for any dogs that are still waiting for a foster home or for a dog which needs specialist support when they come into our care. 

“We have been working with local experts to develop the plans which will also incorporate sustainable solutions including low energy heaters, low energy lighting and solar panels. We will also be using modular buildings ensuring that the construction has quicker turnaround and kennels can be easily modified, cost-effectively in the future, should any new welfare legislation come into play. The Council has advised us that its verification process can take up to two weeks however once this process has passed, individuals will be able to find the site plans online.”

The site has been closed since 2019 after the state of the buildings were reviewed and identified as in poor condition and not able to meet modern DEFRA standards. Since the closure, St Francis has continued to prioritise support for dogs and successfully launched its fostering model which provides dogs with the benefit of being in a home environment, rehabilitating and receiving regular human companionship, until they are ready for rehoming. Since August 2022, 24 dogs have been rehomed, with 10 dogs currently in foster care and an established community of fosterers. As it looks towards the future, the Charity will continue to recruit more fosterers as well as volunteers, appoint Trustees with experience in fundraising and will be looking at corporate and community fundraising. 

Further information about the site plans will be shared on the website and Facebook page of St Francis Dogs Home once it has gone through Cornwall Council’s verification process.