In our monthly focus on groups, clubs and associations in France, 'Les Chiens de Figeac' explain in their words what their assocation is all about.

Les Chiens de Figeac Dog Refuge

The refuge takes in dogs that have nowhere else to go!        

Some are abandoned by owners who genuinely cannot keep them and cannot find anyone else to help but the majority of them are found abandoned by concerned members of the public or by the police.

Numbers of abandoned dogs increase year on year, and, since the Association’s policy is not to put down any dogs it can save, our main aim is to work at increasing the adoption rate.

We are often used as a point of reference by distraught owners looking for a lost pet or by those trying to track down the owners of lost animals found by them.

We are happy to help locating owners for dogs found and if they are tattooed or micro- chipped we can access the database of registered owners.

If responsible owners who want to re-home a dog can look after the animal for as long as possible after notifying us of the problem, we can try and match the dog up with a new owner without putting the animal through the stress of entering the refuge environment first.

Whilst in our care, we concentrate on the day to day care and re-homing of abandoned dogs and puppies, and the long-term care of the less adoptable dogs.

We have to fundraise to help with running costs, veterinary costs and for improvements we would like to make to improve living conditions there for our four-legged friends!

Fundraising can come in the form of donations (of any amount! - donate online on our website) and also from sponsored events such as sponsored participation in the Figeac ‘Canicross' (a race where you run with your dog attached). The 2007 event paid for 16 insulated dog kennels. Another initiative was selling donated items at local brocantes/vide greniers which in 2008 paid for our new website and other publicity.

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