Dachshunds enjoy tea party for charity

Dachshunds and their owners gathered at a community centre on Sunday for a Christmas tea party.

The Dog Meat Trade Dachshund Rescue and Support Group held the event at Shurdington Community Centre so dogs and owners could "regroup after a year of campaigning".

The group rescues sausage dogs "in Asia who are destined for the meat market", George Porter from the group explained.

"It's just a chance for all to get together and let the dogs play," he said.

The tea party included homemade cakes, biscuits, and sandwiches

The Dog Meat Trade Dachshund Rescue and Support Group is run by volunteers

Mr Porter said it takes "about £5,000 just to get a dog on a plane over here".

But the dogs also need injections, including one to protect them against rabies, and vet checks in addition to a quarantine period, bringing the total to "about £15,000".

A variety of costumes were sported by the dogs as they got together before Christmas

Some of the dogs at the party had been rescued from the meat trade and breeding farms

Since it was set up in 2020, the charity has rescued more than 250 dogs.

"We've rescued 67 dogs since we did the party last year, so we've raised a lot of money and it's not just [this tea party]," Mr Porter said.

"There's events that go on across the country."

More than 30 dogs are currently awaiting rescue from Asia by the group

Dottie, who took her dog, Dot Dot, to the party, told the BBC "every penny" raised at the party was going towards the rescue of dachshunds.

"Our motto is 'No dachshund left behind'," she said.

"So we will save as many as we can."