VIDEO: Jerry Green Dog Rescue Centre re-opens it’s doors in Mansfield

Dog lovers - beware! There’s a brand new rescue centre in town and they opened their doors to the public for the first time last weekend.
Jerry Green dog rescue centre feature.
Volunteer, Gill Skinner, with Oscar, the Westie that she has adopted.Jerry Green dog rescue centre feature.
Volunteer, Gill Skinner, with Oscar, the Westie that she has adopted.
Jerry Green dog rescue centre feature. Volunteer, Gill Skinner, with Oscar, the Westie that she has adopted.

The Jerry Green Dog Rescue Centre on Warsop Lane, Blidworth was completely knocked down last year and after a huge funding drive the community, they have rebuilt everything.

The centre, which was originally built in 1986, underwent a £1.75 million shake up - giving the dogs new kennels and a new centre for staff and volunteers.

Six people are currently employed at the centre, but there are more than 20 volunteers helping to look after the dogs.

Jerry Green dog rescue centre feature.
Volunteer, Gill Skinner, with Oscar, the Westie that she has adopted.Jerry Green dog rescue centre feature.
Volunteer, Gill Skinner, with Oscar, the Westie that she has adopted.
Jerry Green dog rescue centre feature. Volunteer, Gill Skinner, with Oscar, the Westie that she has adopted.

Sapphire McInnes, deputy manager at the centre, has worked for the company for 14 years and saw the re-construction from start to finish.

She said: “It was amazing because I knew what was going to come would be fit for purpose.

“It is now more like a hotel for dogs and they are all so much happier.”

Their opening event last weekend was a day of fun for guests and VIPs who donated to the building of the centre - and of course, the dogs.

Paddy Tipping with Jerry Green supporters Mark and Karen at the open day of the centre in Blidworth.Paddy Tipping with Jerry Green supporters Mark and Karen at the open day of the centre in Blidworth.
Paddy Tipping with Jerry Green supporters Mark and Karen at the open day of the centre in Blidworth.

“It was such a packed day,” said Sapphire.

More than 600 guests attended the event on Sunday, August 23 to take part in fundraising actiivities, including a dog show.

And more than £2,000 was raised on the day.

Nottinghamshire Police Commissioner Paddy Tipping also went along to the opening of the centre and took a tour of the facilities.

He said: “The new centre is fabulous.

“What impressed me was the quality of the building, the professional and caring nature of the staff and the support of this band of donors.

“The charity was lucky enough to receive over £50,000 in donations from local supporters and businesses, whose names can be found on the recognition wall in reception, alongside Petplan, Support Adoption for Pets and Pedigree, who provided grants worth £26,000.”

At the ceremony Jacqui Bell, the national CEO of Jerry Green, thanked all of the supporters for their donations and the staff for their dedication throughout the building process.

Jacqui said: “We couldn’t have built this amazing eco centre without the support we’ve received from our donors.

“It is because of you that we will be able to help many more dogs in the future as they look for their forever homes.”

The eco-friendly building is run from solar panels and a biomass boiler, as it provides a home for up to 27 dogs at a time until the charity can find them a permanent, loving home.

Sapphire added: “Jerry Green has taken the correct decision in keeping the number of kennels small because we want to have quality time for all the dogs we have here - quality over quantity every time.”

There is also a large amount of land belonging to the centre so dogs get the chance to run around and be sociable.

The dogs are all given training and vetinary treatment and their average length of stay is two to three weeks until they find their “forever home”.

But one of Sapphires main concerns is that people might think rescue dogs are “damaged dogs”, but says that “for a lot of them, this is not the case”.

She said: “We get dogs from all walks of life.

“Mostly they come into us because of human error and the owner can no longer keep the pet because of something that went wrong at home.

“So these dogs are just really nice family pets that come here looking for a second chance.

“There is a myth that rescue dogs are damaged dogs and this is absolutely not the case.”

Volunteer, Gill Skinner, has been volunteering at the centre for 16 months and recently decided to adopt one of the dogs.

She said: “I fell in love with him straight away and when I thought that somebody else was going to adopt him - I had to have him for myself.

“He has definitely found his forever home.

“This centre is just amazing because everybody is so non-judgemental, but they like to make sure each dog is going to the right home.”

The Jerry Green team are also looking for foster families for their dogs.

Anyone interested should live within the surrounding areas of the centre and be quickly contactable if anybody needs to get in touch.

A foster owner should have enough time to care for a dog - even at the last minute.

If you want anymore information about this, get in touch with the team by emailins [email protected].