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ONE of Bahrain's best loved charities is urging supporters to make a special festive push to ensure dreams of providing a new animal sanctuary become a reality.
The construction of the new BSPCA Animal Welfare Centre in Askar will cost BD330,000 and the charity is currently around BD100,000 short of its target.
The organisation has come up with a fundraising programme through which individuals, companies, schools and other groups can sponsor kennels at the new facility. Their donations will be acknowledged in a naming ceremony.
Fundraising co-ordinator, Joyce Hughes, said: "We are hoping that people will want to name a cat or dog kennel in memory of a dear pet. So, loosing a pet of your own can help provide shelter, food and hopefully a new home to less fortunate animals, who have often been abandoned and left to fend for themselves.
"They may also wish to support us in the name of the much-loved pet they currently share their lives with ... for it really is among the lucky ones on the island."
Concreting for the floors of 95 dog kennels has nearly been completed at the new site.
The BSPCA is also seeking supportive contractors to offer assistance; either with materials or services, so the construction task can be accomplished on land donated by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
The current rented facility is in Shakura, on the edge of Saar, and upmarket residential housing developments are mushrooming up around it, causing friction with its new neighbours over noise.
A 'build for purpose' unit would also save on continuing maintenance costs, the campaigners say as they push the plans forward amid criticism over the project's cost and its desert location ... issues Joyce is happy to address.
The future is far from rosy at its current location. Joyce explained: "The situation regarding the premises at Shakura is unclear. We have known for some time that the shelter will need to relocate, but the timing issue is uncertain.
"With all the luxury housing now surrounding our premises it would only have to take an educated guess that we will be asked to leave at some point, especially as we have our own land at Askar graciously given to us by the Prime Minister many years ago.
"We have no problem with moving. We appreciate that the land in Saar is very costly and our human neighbours have a right to a noise-free environment ... but we need help to get out."
Harley Davidson Bahrain was the first organisation to back the new kennel sponsorship scheme by donating BD250.
Joyce added: "If we had all of the funds to hand then the new centre could be completed in three to six months.
"But the lack of funds is slowing us down dramatically because we are unable to give a turn-key project to one company.
"We believe that any large construction company would have no trouble in achieving the task at hand. But, if we have to do it in stages, then it will take considerably longer.
"After all, we are mostly a team of volunteers, not only helping to run the existing shelter but dealing with all the issues surrounding the construction of the new one. It is no task for the faint-hearted!
"Also, some ill-advised people denigrate the efforts of the society because they say that BD330,000 - which is the professional estimate at current market prices - is too high and the build should be 'down-graded' to a more simple, cheaper design.
"Trust me; we have looked at all the options to reduce the cost, who wouldn't? This is a basic design, mainly of concrete.
"The accommodation block and administration block alone is like building a house and then keep in mind there are 95 kennels, two cat houses and three quarantine blocks. That's an awful lot of concrete, steel and aluminium. There will also be a pump-house, generator room and an electricity sub-station too!
"We have had to alter the design to remove all the 'bells and whistles'. We wanted an aviary and a place for rescued horses and donkeys originally but that has had to fall by the wayside as we stripped the plans of anything considered 'non essential'."
Another question which seems to raise its ugly head frequently is the new centre's location in Askar, with angry retorts that it is 'too far away'.
Joyce explained: "For those that comment that Askar is 'too far' I would ask, too far from where? If you live in Durrat, Riffa, Awali or A'ali you would think Shakura was miles away and you would be closer to the new site.
"Some people also choose to miss the point that we were GIVEN the land in Asker. Perhaps the people who complain that it's too far would like to ask the Prime Minister to give us something more convenient to them?
"Also, when the BSPCA was first founded in Shakura it felt like it was in the middle of the desert too because at the time it was well away from the towns. People still came to offer support and give homes to the animals.
"The country is closing up. Soon, like the world, nothing will be far away. My view is that if you care enough about animals to either bring one to us, or you would like to adopt one, you would be willing to make a 20-minute drive. After all, that is all it is!
Recently, two of the founders of the BSPCA, Professor Khalil Rajab and his wife Betty visited the shelter in Shakura to thank the current committee members for all their hard work. The couple established the organisation along with four other animal-lovers in 1979.
There are currently 60 dogs and 60 cats looking for homes. Last year 2,500 animals passed through its doors.
The shelter currently costs around BD50,000 a year to run. It employs a vet, Hansel Thomas, and recently took on shelter manager, Paul Duke, to add a more professional touch to the operation. There are also four kennel lads keeping the facility clean and an army of volunteers, helpers and fund-raisers.
After taking a tour of the shelter, Mr. Rajab said: "This society has really come up in terms of the services offered and even the shelter itself. We started off with one room and look at it now.
"It would be a shame for it all to go to waste because of a lack of funding. My wife and I worked hard with the founders to create a proper shelter and volunteers such as Joyce and a few others have made it the valued centre it is today.
"Please help the BSPCSA to continue to grow and save these abandoned animals. Don't let them roam the streets.
"I know there are many people, Bahraini and expat, who truly care about the well being of animals. Let us rally together and help fund this new home in Askar."
