Archive » Headline News » News

Newf Friends raises $26,500 for Newfs-in-need

September 16, 2014

By Nate Smelle

Three days of peace, love and eternal “Newfiness” came to a close on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the public beach on Old Diamond Lake Road where it all began two days earlier. The third time that the animal rescue group Newf Friends has held its bi-annual Newfstock celebration in honour of their colossal canine companions it is the largest and most significant fundraiser for the organization.

“This is a huge fundraiser for us,” said Newf Friends executive director Sandra Nicholson.

“We host a number of smaller fundraisers throughout. We have about 5,000 followers on Facebook so we get a lot of donations from around the world. We try to include the local community here as much as possible too.”

Recently Newf Friends has partnered with Dr. Henry Christiansen and the Bancroft Photography Club for a creative fundraising initiative utilizing local talent. In spite of the heavy rain on Saturday, Sept. 13 photographers from the club showed up to the festival’s main event in Millennium Park in Bancroft to capture a dozen images of these cuddly creatures. Vendors dodged the downpour hiding out under the cover of their tents. Supporters of Newf Friends could help fund the rescue organization (a sister organization of the Highlands Animal Rescue Team, HART) by also purchasing Newf Friends merchandise. There was also a penny raffle and silent auction items. With more than 175 people and 75 Newfs making the trip to Bancroft for Newfstock organizers said the event was a great success.

Before their closing swim date on Sunday, the group re-convened for a morning hike at Vance Park.

Throughout the duration of the event Newf Friends managed to raise $26,500 to help cover the costs of caring for the Newfoundlander dogs they rescue.

As foster pet parents of Tank, a three-year-old Newf with severe hip dysplasia in need of surgery, Susan Windle and Dave Minhinnick of Seaforth, Ontario know all about how much time and money it takes to care for a Newf-in-need.

“He has already had one hip replaced, and he also had a broken leg after the surgery” Windle said.

“He is 150 pounds so you can’t just pick him up and put him where you want him to be. With a little dog you can just carry them around. After his first surgery we couldn’t carry him out to go pee, he had to walk himself.”

Now awaiting his second surgery, Tank is still going through rehabilitation for his first hip replacement. This involves running on a treadmill in a water tank. Windle said it is miraculous to see Tank walking on the aquatic treadmill. With the water in the machine supporting much of his weight, Windle said he is able to use his legs the way the should be able to on land.

Windle and Minhinnick are hopeful they will be able to adopt Tank following his next surgery. Helping to raise funds for the of $10,000 procedure he needs to walk free of pain, Newf Friends has been campaigning on behalf of Tank to provide him the care and recovery he needs.

For more information on how you can help Tank and other rescued Newfs-in-need visit www.facebook.com/Newf Friends.

         

Facebooktwittermail

Page Reader Press Enter to Read Page Content Out Loud Press Enter to Pause or Restart Reading Page Content Out Loud Press Enter to Stop Reading Page Content Out Loud Screen Reader Support