A local couple have donated items and money to animal rescue centres in Ukraine and Germany.
Adam Pamment and Karina Bowen collected pet coats, beds and food, which were donated by Pets Corner in Shepton Mallet and Happy Landings Animal Sanctuary in Pylle, Shepton Mallet, where the couple volunteer. They also donated £150 to an animal rescue centre in Ukraine.
Adam said, “Happy Landings is probably one of the biggest animal rescue centres around here. We are lucky that we could source a lot of stuff.”
The couple had originally planned to deliver the items personally to a rescue centre in Kyiv, Ukraine, and leave their car for the centre to use. However, in Koblenz, Germany, their car broke down due to a failing gearbox, leaving them stranded in –9°C temperatures until a local rescue team could help.
“We are quite sad that we didn’t make it all the way there,” said Adam. “Nothing has gone to waste though and all the items have been given to a pet rescue centre in Germany near where we broke down. Of the money we raised, £375 was used in the journey but I am going to donate £150 of that to the Gostomel animal centre in Ukraine anyway, which of course comes out of my own pocket.
“They are trying to rescue animals but every day they are under fire and having bombs dropped on them. They are doing a very hard job and the woman who runs it has just had a baby, her husband is at the front line, so they really are doing all they can.
“When we broke down, the rescue team were so kind; they ended up giving us an old car for free so we could drive to a nearby town to find a hotel.
“We would definitely attempt the trip again but next time I would buy a right-hand drive car over here and go when the weather is warmer.”
When the couple’s car has been shipped back to England, Adam said they will be donating it to Bath College in Radstock’s automotive maintenance department to enable young apprentices to use it as part of their course.
Adam said, “We thought we had a disaster but were still able to help two charities and one place teaching young people a vocational skill in this country.”