By Katie Pearson

A dog sanctuary owner says she needs a "Christmas miracle" to save her rescue centre – or face having her animals euthanised.

Charkirk Dog Sanctuary has around 30 dogs in its care and just over three weeks to find a new premises after being served notice to leave.

Rescue founder Ali Clark is now "desperate" to raise £10,000 for a new spot and kennel equipment.

Ali takes in dogs with severe behavioural problems and 17 dogs at the sanctuary in Stockport, Great Manchester, have been classed as "unrehomeable" - so are most at risk.

Some of her dogs have come from abusive or neglectful backgrounds and she says it would "break her heart" to put them to sleep.

Ali is calling on landowners with existing kennels, or those with suitable stables where kennels could be built, preferably in Wales or along the England–Wales border, to get in touch if they have a suitable place for her to rent for her new sanctuary.

Ali and one of her dogs (Image via SWNS)

A GoFundMe has been launched with the hopes of raising the money for a new location before it's too late.

Ali, from Powys, Wales, said: "I'm desperate to find somewhere suitable. Dogs are my life – I just can't let them down.

"People have come forward and said we'll foster them, we'll adopt them. But most of the dogs will only accept me. 

"So many just keep them locked up in a kennel almost 24/7. That's not a life, they are better off being euthanised.

"I know people will be outraged, but that's the reality. I need a Christmas miracle."

Ali looks after dogs who could be considered 'unrehomeable' (Image via SWNS)

Ali - who has been in animal rescue for 10 years and saved hundreds of dogs - was given three months' notice on October 2024 to find a new place due to a change of use for the premises. 

She owns a property in Wales but has been staying on site for the last 18-months to care for the dogs in Stockport, as there is no one else who can look after them.

However, finding a new premises closer to her home that can meet the needs of her dogs has proved difficult.

She said: "Here I try get the dogs out as much as I can.

"I have an agility course, a small paddock, a courtyard, and a therapy room with chaise lounges.

"I rotate them round so that they're not just stuck in staring at four walls.

"The money will go towards renting land or a place to house the dogs, but finding somewhere big enough, either with kennels or to build them, has proved incredibly difficult."

Despite aiming to rehabilitate and rehome dogs that come into the sanctuary, Ali said it's "not possible" for all of them.

Many of the dogs in her care are not suitable for re-homing due to behavioural issues (Image via SWNS)

Dogs living long-term at the sanctuary include Gus, a Springer Spaniel, who was found living in a garage for six years before Ali took him in.

There's also Groober, a Romanian Mioritic Shepherd cross, who has "guarding issues" and won't let anyone come near him except Ali.

"These dogs can't go to anyone else, I know their quirks," she said.

"For example, what am I supposed to my collie, Trigger, who won't let anyone get near him to put a lead on him?

"He's so shut down it's taken me six months to get him to take a treat off me. Previously, he had been living in hell.

"These are the ones most at risk – there is nowhere else for them to go except with me."

She had previous funded the sanctuary through her pension and doesn't take donations, apart from at Christmas time to buy the dog's a special 'Christmas' dinner.

However without the money to move, Ali is now in a race against time to raise the funds for a new sanctuary before the dogs are made "homeless" and potentially "euthanised".

She estimates she will need to raise around £10,000 to cover all the costs of renting a new space. 

If there are no kennels or high perimeter fencing already in place, the money will also fund building these essential components. 

Ali said: "I never ask for money or take donations - I fund it all myself. But this is a desperate situation. 

"100% of the money goes to the dogs, and making sure they're safe and secure in their new environment.

"This is their last hope."

To donate, visit the GoFundMe page here.

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