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.

We are launching our ‘Sponsor a Dog' scheme, partly as fundraising for the dogs but also to bring people closer to what is a long term problem with long term needs.

Many of our dogs are likely to live out their years with us due to age, illness or the fact that they are unsuitable to be re-homed as a domestic pet.



Costs of keeping a dog fit, healthy and fed long term are high and sponsoring a dog for 5€ a month/60€ a year will help greatly and make a really big difference. 

If you can't adopt a dog but would like to support our work why not Sponsor a Dog, helping towards its costs and helping to give an unwanted dog a safe and happy life.

Sponsor a Dog as a gift - for Christmas or for a birthday! No more wasting money on plastic toys or unwanted shop bought items!

Perhaps your place of work or your club or society that you belong to may like to sponsor a dog collectively! It could be your mascot!

Simply choose from the dogs on our website and contact us for a sponsor form to register your choice. In return for your support and sponsorship you will receive a certificate with photo and an annual update on your dog with news from the refuge.

Go Ahead, Do a Good Deed!

An example of a dog you could sponsor:

Chouchou

An 11 year old female Westie
Chouchou was found a long way from home having got herself lost and though her owner was located she did not want to claim her dog due to hefty vet fees this poor dog will incur indefinitely.

She suffers from a severe skin problem as well as other health issues and due to these and her age she is unlikely to ever be adopted!

Les Chiens de Figeac website

Expatica 2009