A marriage funds means interested by decorations, catering, leisure – however one Cork couple had been additionally decided to put aside a few of their money for an excellent trigger.
When Vivienne and Gavin Leonard acquired married earlier this month on the Maryborough Hotel in Douglas, they determined to not hand out the same old marriage ceremony favours to their company – as an alternative giving the money to 2 charities near their hearts.
The newlyweds as an alternative gave to the Cork Dog Action Welfare Group (Cork DAWG) and the Grace Nolan Foundation. The Grace Nolan Foundation raises money for analysis right into a uncommon genetic situation, HHT, whereas Cork DAWG rescues and re-homes lots of of deserted, abused, and uncared for dogs yearly.
Vivienne mentioned she and Gavin wished to offer again to DAWG after they helped a really particular member of the household settle in. Last yr they adopted puppy Fred from the charity and likewise fostered one among Fred’s sisters, Mina, earlier than she moved to dwell with new homeowners in Douglas.
(Image: Vivienne Leonard)
Vivienne and Gavin met on Tinder in 2018, and acquired engaged on a visit to Portugal in 2022. They married within the barely cloudier climes of Douglas on March 1 this yr. Vivienne and Gavin donated €300 to every charity in lieu of marriage ceremony favours,
For Vivienne, animal welfare has all the time been a precedence: “I’m vegetarian – I’ve been vegetarian for 20 years and animals are crucial to each of us.” When Vivienne’s 14-year-old canine Harry died in 2022, the Leonards had been “decided to rescue somewhat than purchase” their subsequent pet.
Vivienne mentioned: “Cork DAWG is a good charity and the work they do is wonderful. They’re all the time checking in on us since we adopted Fred. They’re mad in search of fosterers.”
(Image: Vivienne Leonard)
Cork DAWG thanked the Leonards for his or her considerate donation on social media, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than fellow fosterers had been sharing their very own footage of Fred’s different re-homed siblings.
Fred’s mom Daisy had given beginning to a litter of puppies in July 2023, all of which had been cared for and fostered out by Cork DAWG. And the puppy mother and father are actually planning to fulfill up and reunite the adopted pups with their mom.
One proprietor mentioned: “We ought to def meet up and have a pic of Daisy and her pups”. Another added: “Daisy is gorgeous and all her children are all an identical.”
Cork DAWG has been rescuing and re-homing dogs since 2007, taking care of 1,000 animals every year both at their sanctuary or with the assistance of volunteer fosterers. The sanctuary relies in Charleville, and potential fosterers can visit by appointment.
Vivienne and Gavin’s gesture is not the one serving to paw that Rebels have prolonged to dogs in want currently. Last week, a lifeboat crew heroically rescued a dog that had fallen from a cliff into the ocean close to the Baltimore Beacon in West Cork. The canine had managed to swim to a rocky ledge, the place she was retrieved by a Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat crew.
