Boxer dog charity in help plea

Dogs such as Sophie have been aided by the charity over the years

A rescue charity which re-homes unwanted boxer dogs is appealing for help due to a funding crisis.

Peterhead-based Boxer Welfare Scotland said it has found homes for almost 370 of the dogs since its 2005 launch.

The charity believes the credit crunch and a knock-on effect from the tail docking ban are to blame for more unwanted boxer dogs.

Trustee Karen Cox said: "We want to keep helping but may not be here soon - we need donations to keep going."

The charity said it recently had to pay more than £6,000 in kennel costs and this had virtually wiped out rescue funds.

We are a very hard-working charity but all of this seems to have been to no avail if we don't get some urgent funding or support Karen Cox Boxer Welfare Scotland

The current economic climate is being blamed for owners not being able to afford their dogs.

The charity trustee told the BBC Scotland news website: "More and more dogs have been coming in, and less people are applying for boxers.

"Some people cannot afford to care for their dogs as they did in the past. People are having to get second jobs.

"And we have less money coming in, despite tremendous fundraising efforts."

MSPs voted in 2007 to ban the docking of all dog tails in Scotland.

The charity supports the ban, but she explained: "Some breeders were pushing out litters as a last chance to get docked puppies.

Boxer Levi is among the dogs being cared for

"It may have seemed like a good idea, but a boxer is not a spur of the moment dog.

"Now a lot of them come back to us."

The charity worker added: "We are a very hard-working charity and our volunteers spend a lot of weekends giving up their time and energy to help raise funds.

"But all of this seems to have been to no avail if we don't get some urgent funding or support.

"We really need help for our charity."

More details about the charity can be found at www.boxerwelfarescotland.co.uk