Help save 30 sanctuary dogs about to be homeless

Ali Clarke runs Chadkirk Dog Sanctuary in Stockport and has to vacate her kennels by December 31. She has a heart of gold and has taken in dogs with behavioural problems. The dogs that noone want.

She has spent months searching for new premises with no luck and she now needs a "Christmas miracle". The sanctuary has over 30 dog. Many of these - 17 - are classed as "unrehomable" and unthinkable will have to happen if a new place for the sanctuary can't be found in time.

Ali is calling on landowners with existing kennels, or those with suitable stables where kennels could be built, preferably in Wales or along the England–Wales border, to get in touch.

Some of Ali’s dogs come from an abusive or neglectful background and will only accept her. For example, Trigger (below) won’t let anyone get near him to put a lead on him. He’s so shut down it’s taken Ali six months to get him to take a treat off her. Previously, he had been living in hell.

For Ali, who has rescued for 10 years, dogs are her life and she just can't let them down. This is breaking her heart. She gets up at 4am every day to walk the dogs and doesn't stop until 9pm at night.

She tries to get the dogs, some of whom have been at the sanctuary for years, out as much as possible. She has an agility course, a small paddock, a courtyard and a therapy room with chaise lounges. She rotates the dogs around so that they’re not just stuck in staring at four walls.

Ali knows she will get abuse for even saying she may have to euthanise them. But she says the reality is that at a lot of other 'sanctuaries' they will be spending almost 24/7 in kennels and that's no life for them.

The dogs living long-term at the sanctuary include Gus who was living in a garage for six years. There’s also Groober, a Romanian Mioritic Shepherd cross has guarding issues and won’t let anyone come near him except Ali.

Ali funds the sanctuary through her pension and boarding rescue dogs which she offers at a heavily discounted rate.

Below are pics of a German Shepherd that Ali took in showing him emaciated before and how he looked after three months of her care.

She has been praised by fellow animal rescuers for taking in difficult dogs.

Niz Khan, who runs Animal Adoption International, says Ali has taken in dogs she’s been unable to rehome. “She has a heart of gold,” she said. “The dogs have such a good life with her. They really thrive under her care.

“She has one of my dogs, a corgi cross called Michael, who is so lovely, but he’s been traumatised, I believe from a noose-type catchpole in Romania, and he bit me. But with Ali he hasn’t bitten in four years and he’s a happy dog there.”