Wyaston Rd., Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1NB.
Telephone: 01335 300494 & 01335 300825
Telephone: 01335 300494 & 01335 300825
When we opened The Ark to its’ first residents in March 2001, it transformed the way in which we could do our work. From struggling to operate by fostering in members’ homes and using boarding kennels, we had set up our own, purpose-built rescue and re-homing centre. Since then, we have progressively developed and improved the facilities at The Ark, always with the aim of giving the best possible standards of care to our cats and dogs.
The Ark stands in 6 acres of its’ own ground, in open countryside about 1½ miles from the centre of Ashbourne. It can accommodate approximately 40 dogs and 50 cats, including some limited provision for private boarders, which helps to pay for our essential rescue work.
The dogs have large pens, each with an outside run, and the kennel block is centrally heated, supplemented by individual heat lamps for those who feel the cold. There are 4 exercise yards and 4 grass compounds, so all the dogs have the opportunity to run and play safely. They are also lead-walked twice a day by our dedicated band of dog walkers, or by our staff, either within our grounds or along the adjacent country lanes. Our most recent addition is the “Dog House”, providing a quiet room away from the main kennels for stressed dogs to relax for a time and get used to meeting people in a more domestic environment.
The bright and airy cattery is situated away from the kennels. It is also centrally heated and each of the modern pens has access to an exercise run. There is an excellent isolation unit with roomy pens, separated from the rest of the cattery. Also in a separate area is “Roger’s Room”, named in memory of a very special cat, who became The Ark’s resident cat and won everybody’s hearts. “Roger’s Room” also incorporates a cat-cuddling area (very popular with both cats and people!), providing lots of living space for some of our long stay cats, who also enjoy access to a small, secure garden area. We also have a “maternity wing”, with very large, double-decker units specially designed to accommodate kittens and nursing mothers – of which there is usually no shortage!
We have a laundry, a dog kitchen, a cat kitchen and a sluice, as well as a treatment room for the vet to use on his regular visits. People are not entirely forgotten either! There are facilities for our loyal staff and dedicated volunteers, on whom we depend to continue our work, to have a chat over a cup of tea or coffee.
We think The Ark is a cheerful and friendly place, so we hope you will come and see it for yourself on one of our monthly Open Days. You can look around, visit the cats and dogs, buy from our wide selection of gifts, visit “Aladdin’s Cave” to find a bargain amongst our bric-a brac and books, then enjoy a cup of tea or some home-made food – all in all, a really good day out. At other times, visiting is by prior appointment.
