Dogs go walkies for Bandeath shelter

Claire Graham organised a five-mile sponsored walk for humans and canines from the Underwood Lockhouse in Allandale to the Rosebank in Camelon when the future of the Stirling facility was still in doubt due to withdrawal of funding from Police Scotland and Clackmannanshire Council.

The event, which took place last Saturday, was a great success and is expected to raise over £2000 for the shelter, which received a boost at the end of last month after Falkirk, Clackmannanshire and Stirling councils made a commitment to continue funding the facility.

Claire said: “We are still waiting to see if the police will decide to continue their funding, but we now know the three councils will fund the shelter until 2019 when it will come up for review again.

“We had over 20 people and their dogs at the walk, which was great. The weather was dry and sunny, but not too hot – which was good for the dogs. Once we get all the money in we will present a cheque to the Buddies of Bandeath committee who will hold it for the shelter.”

The Buddies of Bandeath action committee was set up earlier in the year to campaign to save the shelter, which reportedly costs around £86,000 a year to run – with each council supplying £23,000.

If Police Scotland, which pulled its funding due to budgetary pressures, does not reconsider its position Stirling Council will have to pick up the shortfall in funding for the facility.

A petition to save the shelter, which could have closed for good at the end of the year, managed to collect 20,000 signatures.

Members of the Buddies of Bandeath committee were delighted with the councils’ continued support and thanked supporters like Claire who had helped raise funds for the cause. The money raised from various events will now go towards improving Bandeath.