Doggy dreamland as Schnauzerfest comes to Preston

Schnauzerfest is coming to Preston for the first time.

An annual UK-wide event, Schnauzerfest sees walks taking place on the same weekend each year to raise awareness of puppy farming and to help the dogs saved from them.

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Schnauzerfest’s Katharine Blakemore said: “We haven’t really done any events in the north west before, so I’ve come back to my home city to host a walk!”

Featured on ITV’s Britain’s Top 100 Dogs 2019 back in January, Schnauzerfest is now in its sixth year, and it’s promising to be bigger and better than ever before.

Since its creation in 2014, Schnauzerfest has raised over £160,000, which has all gone to a couple of small animal rescues. The Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre (DBARC) based in Berkshire is the biggest recipient and this year will receive all funds.

DBARC provide loving care and veterinary treatment for animals, including schnauzers, who have experienced the terrible conditions of puppy farms and other rough backgrounds.

As well as raising lots of money to benefit rescue dogs, at the heart of Schnauzerfest is a commitment to raising awareness of the cruel world of puppy farming.

Dexter is excited about Schnauzerfest 2019

Schnauzerfest is the creation of writer Janetta Harvey, who adopted Susie-Belle, a schnauzer who was rescued from a puppy farm and fostered at DBARC.

Janetta said: “When Susie-Belle came out of the puppy farm, she was in a terrible state. I didn’t know a huge amount about puppy farms before I got her, but now I do. She was traumatised and damaged by that industry.

“For me, Schnauzerfest was a way of raising money for DBARC and to give something back. I just mentioned organising a walk to a few friends in 2014 and thought a few people would turn up and donate a few pounds. Now there are walks taking place all over the UK and hundreds of dogs and their owners take part.

“It’s only through people caring enough about dogs saved from puppy farms to want to do something to help, that support, money, donations and help of all kinds floods to DBARC each year.

“And although it may not be realised, at the heart of much of the support coming from the schnauzer community lies Susie-Belle. She was the dog who motivated me to document her journey, make it public and to keep doing so, year after year so that her suffering, like that of every other dog in a breeding facility, would never be forgotten.”

Donations to Schnauzerfest UK can be made at any time by visiting www.schnauzerfest.org.

For more information on Preston Schnauzerfest, join the Facebook event.

Read more: See what’s on in Preston