Help us build our Future
Our New National Training Centre Fund Appeal
Our new property currently requires COMPLETE RENOVATION at a cost of €500,000
For the last 18 years, while operating our charity to the highest standards, we have saved diligently to purchase a permanent home with sufficient land to develop and expand our services to meet the current 4-fold demand for our dogs, who are GIFTED each year to those who need them the most.
After years of saving and searching for the right property within our limited budget, we purchased a 3500 sq. ft. period house in need of complete renovation on an 11.5 acre site, located off the N71 within 15 mins of Cork City centre.
We NEED to get our new National Training Centre and Head Office in Cork renovated and operational as soon as possible to meet the huge demand for our highly trained dogs. In the past 12 months we have had a 4-fold increase in enquiries and applications for our life-changing dogs.
We receive zero annual government funding and can’t progress essential repair works at our HQ project without your financial assistance.
Phase 1: €500,000
The main house and access will cost in the region of €500,000 to renovate and move staff and dogs in.
Phase 2: €1,500,000
Outdoors, there are two adjacent properties on site which will be converted into houses for our dogs-in-training.
The entire works will cost in the region of €2 million.
We had a wish list for our perfect home:
✅ Location - close to Cork city for training purposes
✅ Accessible - easy to find and access
✅ Visibility - in a well populated area
✅ Acres - for our children to have the privacy to succeed through specifically created and safe walk-ways for the children to learn to walk with their new assistance dogs in private without the current fear of falling in public
✅ Peace - a feeling of rural tranquility
✅ Forever - a home we can grow into and expand our services, as demand grows 4-fold in the last 12 months
We are particularly excited about finally having the space to facilitate on-site therapies in the three ground floor rooms.
We will have paediatric physiotherapists working alongside dogs trained to perform specific tasks to assist children during physiotherapy sessions.
The presence of a trained dog in these sessions not only brings a more relaxed, positive and motivational atmosphere, it helps develop trust between therapist and child.
A message from our Founder & CEO, Jennifer Dowler
“We need YOUR help! Essential repair works have begun to start the transformation of our property and turn our dream into a reality. Together, we can achieve amazing things. But we need you be a part of our journey. Help us to help them”
Can YOU donate your skills or services?
As we work through restoration plans and the planning process before our BIG build begins, we are gathering a database of skilled and dedicated tradespeople and experts to help us achieve our goals.
If you think you can be a part of our dream build, please complete the form and click SUBMIT
€0 What our Partners Pay for one of our Assistance Dogs
€15k What it costs to produce one Assistance Dog
€0 Government Funding Annually
€600k What it currently costs to operate our charity
€1million What we will need per year to expand our services to meet demand
35 How many dogs we qualify per year
€0 What our Partners Pay for one of our Assistance Dogs €15k What it costs to produce one Assistance Dog €0 Government Funding Annually €600k What it currently costs to operate our charity €1million What we will need per year to expand our services to meet demand 35 How many dogs we qualify per year
