Three Counties Dog Rescue to open Bourne shop

A good cause is set to open its first charity shop on the same day as the town’s Christmas lights are switched on.

Three Counties Dog Rescue will open its new store in the shop formerly occupied by Blue-Eyed Dolls in North Street, Bourne, with an opening date pencilled in for Saturday, November 28.

Earlier this year, the charity learnt first-hand how generous people could be when a fire at the kennels claimed the lives of three Staffordshire bull terriers named Teal, Dave and Daisy, and destroyed part of the offices.

It was a challenging time but thanks to the goodwill of people, they were able to move forward, and it was this generosity that prompted the team to start thinking seriously about the shop.

Gyll Mauchline, who runs Three Counties, hopes the shop will help the charity raise much-needed funds to secure its long-term future.

She said: “Being a local charity we are hoping that the shop will become a hub of activity within the community.

“It will be a great place to hold our regular fund raising events and unlike many charities 100 per cent of all proceeds raised goes directly to the cause”.

Gyll’s husband Max added: “The main catalyst for the shop is our constant need to find new ways to make money.

“We are taking a bit of a gamble by taking a shop but it is something we want to see if we can make a go of.”

As well as being able to drop off donations and bag a bargain, the shop will also provide a centre point for volunteer recruitment and for people to receive information and advice about the charity itself. People will be able to view images and have preliminary discussions about any dog or cat of interest .

Gyll said that while Three Counties was aware that Bourne had quite a few charity shops, she hoped this would make their shop “special and unique”.

Three Counties, which relies entirely on voluntary help and charity donations, is also keen to hear from volunteers who might like to help in the shop or to join its proactive fundraising group to help raise the money it needs to carry on caring for and rehoming any animal.

For more information on the shop opening or volunteering please e-mail to info@threecountiesdogrescue.org and visit the Three Counties Facebook page.

If you would like to donate quality homeware, bric-a-brac, books, clothes, shoes and accessories for the shop, please call Janette on 07857911390. Read more:

Three Counties says thanks for support after fire.