Wire Fence Supports German Shepherd Rescue Elite Ltd with £2,379.80 for New Fencing Project
Wire Fence recently supported German Shepherd Rescue Elite by contributing £2,379.80 worth of discounted materials to help build a fence at their new site, Camelot Kennels in Cornwall, run by Dave Wardell – a former police dog handler known for his work with service dogs, including the amazing Finn.
About German Shepherd Rescue Elite
German Shepherd Rescue Elite (GSRE) is a volunteer-run charity dedicated to rescuing and rehoming German Shepherds, while promoting responsible ownership through education and support. As well as finding new homes, GSRE aims to prevent dogs from being given up by offering training and behaviour advice to owners.
Alongside German Shepherds, the rescue now also helps Belgian Malinois and Dutch Herders – breeds often used in working roles, and whose needs GSRE is well equipped to understand.
The charity is a full member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) and part of the EU Dog and Cat Alliance, working in partnership with other reputable rescues to improve animal welfare across the UK and beyond.
About Dave Wardell
Dave Wardell runs Camelot Kennels in Cornwall and has worked with German Shepherds for over 35 years. He spent 15 years as a police dog handler and instructor. One of his police dogs, Finn, was seriously injured in an attack while on duty. Following this incident, Dave campaigned for better legal protection for service animals, which resulted in the introduction of multiple laws, including ‘Finn’s Law’. In 2019, he and Finn reached the finals of Britain’s Got Talent as part of their awareness campaign.
About the Project
GSRE recently purchased kennels in Cornwall, located on a six-acre plot. The site required reinstating existing fencing and installing additional fencing, with over 500 metres of perimeter to secure.
A dedicated outdoor training area has been completed, along with fencing for the majority of the woodland walk. The fencing was necessary to create a secure environment for the dogs, particularly due to the nature of the working breeds housed at the kennels.
The work doesn’t stop there. The next phase of development includes building external walls, installing roofs, and carrying out a full electrical rewire. Not very exciting but essential, as we will then be refurbishing the kennel interiors completely with new partitions, doors and flooring. We will also then be rejigging and upgrading the utility buildings, the kitchen, laundry room, grooming room and office, and finally converting the old cattery into a kind of living room, kitchen area for people, where the volunteers can spend more time with the kennel dogs in an ‘inside’ environment for further enrichment.
Lizzy Brown from German Shepherd Rescue Elite
Comment From Dave Wardell
The difference the fencing has made to the lives of the dogs is almost immeasurable. When I took over the kennels for one reason and another the previous owners could only manage to get the dogs out for about 20 minutes a day. Now, with the new fencing, on a day when the weather is suitable they are getting more like 4 hours outside per day over the course of 4 or 5 let outs per day. That is reaching high standards that even commercial kennels aim for.
To give you an example we have old man Jerry – Lee. He was always very reluctant to leave his kennel to go outside but I couldn’t work out why. It turns out that he was just out of practice. He now spends hours out exploring the paddocks, playing with toys, interacting with the other dogs and volunteers. It’s lovely to see what was quite a shut down and suspicious dog now interacting with others in this way.
Another example would be Loki. Loki arrived with us having spent his shirt young life kept in one of those small green plastic bike boxes on a south London council estate. He wouldn’t come out of his kennel for the first 3 weeks because he just didn’t understand what the outside world was. Slowly but surely he started to explore. The first move was literally one foot at a time. He placed one foot outside his kennel and then ran back in. Then it was two feet and he’d just stand there sniffing before going back in. Gradually over the course of the next week we’d manage to get him into the corridor of the kennel block. The following few days he’d put his head outside but that was enough and he’d run back. Gradually at his pace we got him outside. Now months on he loves it outside. He loves seeing people as they arrive. He also loves interacting with the other dogs and now he is able to go on extended walks away from the kennels with volunteers.
These are just two examples of many where the new setup has made a huge difference to the dogs welfare.
Thank you for all you have done to help make this happen.
Dave Wardell, German Shepherd Rescue Elite (GSRE)
Comment From Wirefence
We’re proud to play a small part in such a meaningful project – we’re glad we could offer this bit of help, and it’s great to see the difference it’s already making for the dogs.
As a dog owner myself (I’ve got five – including a Jack Russell who thinks he’s much bigger than he is), I know how important it is to have a secure fence. There’s nothing quite like the peace of mind that comes from knowing they’re safe and have plenty of space to run around.
A big thank you to Lizzi for reaching out, and to both her and Dave for the amazing work they’re doing at Camelot Kennels. We’re really grateful to be involved and would be more than happy to help again in the future.
Orsi Content Creator at Wirefence
Project Images
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