A unique £10,000 fundraising appeal has been launched at a village pub near Burnham-On-Sea to help their dog get mobile following an accident.
Rico, a Bernese Mountain Dog, has become trapped downstairs at the Wellington Arms pub in Rooksbridge after breaking several ligaments in his back legs in an accident.
“So we, as the local community, have come up with the idea of getting a lift put in the pub to enable Rico to get back upstairs to his home,” says fundraising organiser Trish Phillips.
“Rico both cruciate ligaments in his back legs and has had to have two operations since this accident and he has had to remain downstairs. For the last 3 months Steve and Jen, the landlords, have had to move into the downstairs restaurant room to look after him.”
“They cannot live down there forever as they need the room back for customers, but Rico is too big to be helped up and down the steep stairs in the pub and currently is unable to return to the living quarters upstairs.”
“He has lived upstairs with them all his life and is now very unhappy at having to stay downstairs on his own when the pub is closed. They had a structural survey from a local lift company and they have offered to fit a suitable lift at a reduced price of £10,000. That’s when the locals came up with an idea to try to help fundraise the money towards this cost.”
“We need to raise £10,000 to get this installed. Local children have decided to raise money to help with this by hosting a Skittle’a’thon.”
“The kids aim to knock down 10,000 skittles over the Halloween weekend, and we are inviting you all to sponsor a £1 a skittle with everyone who donates entered into a draw for a chance of winning a £30 voucher to spend at the pub.”
“We are also running a skittles competition at the Wellington Arms, it’s £5 for 3 balls and the highest wins a hot air balloon ride for two – if it is a tie then names will be drawn at random.”
“Also, over the Halloween weekend there will be lots of spooky fundraising fun for all the children and families including fancy dress, face painting, raffle and a disco!”
Click here for the fundraising page
