Blue’s Journey: Classic Cottages Lends a Helping Paw to Cornish Dog Charity

A generous donation from Hayle-based holiday letting company Classic Cottages is helping Newquay’s St Francis Dogs Home meet the growing demand for its rescue and rehoming services.

Rising Challenges for St Francis

St Francis Dogs Home has reported an unprecedented rise in the number of families facing the heartbreaking decision to give up their dogs. The charity cites several factors contributing to this surge, including:

• The boom in dog ownership during the Covid pandemic.
• Rental restrictions on pets.
• Rising living costs.
• Increased working hours leave owners with less time for their pets.

Founded in 1955, St Francis Dogs Home now rehomes around 200 dogs a year, relying entirely on donations, bequests, and volunteers.

Supporting Blue’s Recovery

Classic Cottages recently donated £500 towards the care of Blue, a two-year-old Siberian Huskie who arrived at the centre six weeks ago. Blue’s journey to recovery has been both challenging and heartwarming.

After a family break-up, Blue’s owner had to move into a smaller property, leaving him confined to an outdoor kennel for a year. This left him underweight, timid, and unaccustomed to being on a lead. Thanks to the care of a foster family near Newquay and support from St Francis, Blue is making strides towards a brighter future.

Beverly Dobson, a long-standing dog trainer and behaviourist who manages the charity, highlighted Blue’s progress:
“After living a year outside, he wouldn’t go beyond the kitchen at first, but the most recent photo I saw of him he was lying on his back, legs in the air, having his tummy tickled in the middle of the living room. He’s such a good-natured dog.

“The donation from Classic Cottages has made all the difference, and Blue is now almost ready for his forever home.”

Classic Cottages’ Commitment to Dogs

Dominique Adams, Marketing and Communications Officer at Classic Cottages, visited Blue alongside her colleague Liz Arnell. Dominique shared their delight in supporting Blue’s recovery:
“We’re thrilled that our donation has made such a difference. Blue really is a lovely dog, and we’re so glad to be able to help get him fit again and ready for a new home.

“We’re all dog lovers at Classic Cottages, and just over 60% of our cottages are dog-friendly, with more people – around 30% this year – choosing to take their dog on holiday. We hope Blue finds his forever home soon.”

How to Support St Francis

St Francis Dogs Home continues to seek donations and volunteers across Cornwall to assist with home checks, fundraising, and events. Foster carers are particularly needed to provide loving environments for rescue dogs like Blue.

For more information, visit the St Francis Dogs Home website.

About Classic Cottages

Classic Cottages, established in 1977, markets high-quality, exclusive holiday properties across the UK. Recognised as a Recommended Provider for UK Holiday Cottages by Which? for four consecutive years, the company is known for its excellent customer service and detailed property descriptions.

Learn more at Classic Cottages.

Photo: Siberian Huskie Blue with (from left to right) Dominique Adams and Liz Arnell from the Classic Cottages marketing team, and Beverly Dobson, manager of St Francis Dogs Home in Newquay.