Black Isle Highland animal shelter Munlochy Animal Aid thanks fundraisers who have helped keep it going through Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic Impressive fundraising effort of over £60k helps Black Isle-based Munlochy Animal Aid look after animals in need
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A Black Isle animal shelter has praised the fundraising efforts carried out on their behalf over the past year.
Covid restrictions have meant the team at Munlochy Animal Aid – which faced vet bills of £46,500 in the last financial year – were not able to organise their own fundraising events.
However the charity, run by Iona Nicol and a team of volunteers, have gratefully received the help of others who stepped up to make sure it could carry on its work of rescuing animals in need.
In a post on its Facebook page the group said: “We have had such a variety of animals coming our way and it has been very busy.
“Like all other fundraising organisations we haven’t been able to do our usual stalls, collections or our annual fete and dog show, but you all kindly stepped up and contributed in a variety of ways, making it all possible.
“We are so grateful to them all and to all you out there who support us and what we do.
“You are really helping a lot of needy animals.”
Husband and wife Rhona Dalgarno and Jimmy Doull run Bella’s Bargains, selling pre-loved pet items at low prices, with all proceeds going to the charity.
They have raised £62,000 since they started four years ago.
Ms Dalgarno said she has enjoyed “every minute of it”.
“Never in a million years would I have thought we would raise that amount,” she said.
“When we started, I reckoned we would have been making £100 a month. The biggest seller last year was our Santa bags, of which we sold 311 at £10 each.
“The last year has been very busy for us here.
“I was asked what inspires me to keep doing it, and that is simply my love for dogs. I can’t rescue them all, but we can help those that care for them in their rescuing activities.”
A BLACK ISLE animal shelter praised the fundraising efforts that helped them do their work over the past year.
As a result of Covid regulations, the team at Munlochy Animal Aid were not able to organise the usual events that helped them raise vital funds to run their charity and pay the vet bills which amounted to £46,500 in the past financial year.
However the charity, run by founder Iona Nicol and a team of volunteers, said they were grateful to individuals who stepped up to make sure the charity could still do their work and rescue animals in need.
A particularly impressive effort came from Rhona and Jimmy Doull who run Bella's Bargains, selling pre-loved pet items at low prices with proceeds all going to the charity.
They raised £62,000 since they started their activity four years ago.
Rhona said she has enjoyed "every minute of it".
"Never in a million years I would have thought we would raise that amount," she said. "When we started, I reckoned we would have been making £100 a month."
"The biggest seller last year has been our Santa bags, of which we sold 311 at £10 each.
"Last year has been a very busy year for us here, I reckon it's because more people get to know about us.
"I was asked what inspires me to keep doing it, and that is simply my love for dogs. I can't rescue them all, but we can help those that care for them in their rescuing activities.
"My hubby is a big part of the success: without him doing all the heavy work we couldn't do it.
"The best thing that happened last year was our new shed, everything under one roof and no more standing out in the rain. Fantastic!"
On a post on their Facebook page they said: "We have had such a variety of animals coming our way and it has been very busy. Like all other fundraising organisations we haven’t been able to do our usual stalls, collections or our annual Fete and dog show but you all kindly stepped up and contributed in a variety of ways making it all possible.
"We are so grateful to them all and to all you out there who support us and what we do. You are really helping a lot of needy animals."
