Dog lovers and their pets staged a peaceful protest in a bid to get a suitable replacement for Guisborough’s Waterfall Kennels.
The kennels - used by Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland councils to house stray dogs - are due to close on April 1.
But the protestors, who brought along several ex-Waterfall dogs to show how valuable the facility has been, fear the new arrangements may involve kennels away from Teesside which may not have the “non-destruction” policy Waterfall operates.
Middlesbrough independent mayoral candidate Andy Preston was among those who turned up to support the peaceful demonstration, which took place today outside the Guisborough kennels complex.
One of the organisers, Jane Galliford, whose group Maxi’s Mates volunteers at the kennels, said she was meeting the landowners, Gisborough Estates, next week with a view to getting the closure delayed while another site is found.
She said: “We want a local pound with proper no-kill facilities for all the dogs, not just the dogs that get on with others.
“We want every dog to have a chance, not just the lovely fluffy ones that are easily rehomed.
“We won’t give up without a fight - we aren’t going to go away. We’re doing this for the dogs because we care about their welfare.”
Margaret Young, chair of animal group Save Our Strays, said: “Hopefully this demonstration will make the general public more aware the kennels are closing, because a lot of people still don’t realise.
“What local people need is a local pound.
"If you lose your dog, it will be a long way to go if you have to travel to somewhere like Durham, for example. And it would have to have a non-destruction policy.”
She said SOS has agreed to take, if possible, any dogs left at the kennels if they do close on April 1.
Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland councils both say they are still working to secure alternative arrangements.
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