Haskins reaches fundraising target to train puppy for Canine Partners

The team working at Haskins Garden Centre in Roundstone has exceeded its fundraising target to pay for charity Canine Partners to train a new puppy.

Staff raised £6,564.00 for the charity over a two year period through fundraising initiatives at the centre. Canine Partners relies on public donations to assist people with physical disabilities by partnering them with assistance dogs. It costs the charity £5,000.00 to purchase a puppy and pay for training, equipment, toys, vet bills, insurance and transport.

Mel Howick, customer services team leader said: “The whole team has thoroughly enjoyed raising funds for Canine Partners. We are all huge dog fans here and it was great that so many customers backed our fundraising efforts too.

“We’re so proud that we’ve smashed our target and we now need to come up with a name for the new puppy.”

Jane Grant, corporate and community engagement manager for Canine Partners, said: “We are extremely grateful to Haskins Roundstone’s staff and customers for raising so much money for Canine Partners through their Wishing Well Appeal.

“They have raised enough to name one of our puppies and sponsor it through its first year of training with one of our volunteer puppy parents.

“We receive no government funding, so we rely on the generosity of supporters like Haskins in order to raise the money we need to continue transforming the lives of disabled people through our amazing dogs.

“Canine partners are trained to help with a range of everyday tasks, including opening doors, picking up dropped items, undressing a person and even unloading a washing machine. These skills help our dogs change lives by boosting disabled people’s independence and confidence.”

Haskins Garden Centres are located at Ferndown in Dorset, West End in Southampton and Roundstone and Snowhill in West Sussex.