Campaigners to protest against Rosedene Rescue Centre re-opening
Campaigners are to hold a protest against a scandal-hit dog shelter reopening.
Rosedene Rescue Centre shut down temporarily earlier this month after volunteers walked away from the facility in Rushall, Walsall, claiming they had removed all remaining 21 dogs from the site due to poor conditions. Owner Desmond Goodall has confirmed he is bringing new management in with a view to reopening the centre.
But now campaign group The Rosedene 12, which stepped in to rehome the dogs, has announced it will hold a demonstration on Saturday, February 3, from noon, starting at the council house in the town centre.
While a petition backing their case has reached more than 1,300 signatures.
Organiser Clare Williams told the Express & Star that at least 100 people had expressed an interest in joining the demonstration within 24 hours of it being announced. While some people who have previously rehomed dogs from Rosedene stated they would be bringing their pets along on the day.
Ms Williams said: “We don’t want Rosedene to ever be reopened by the same owner. In my view the place needs to be demolished. The response (to the protest) has been absolutely overwhelming there are so many people following us now and saying they want to come.
“People just want to be heard and be a voice for the dogs who were kept in unacceptable conditions.”
Ms Williams confirmed all 21 dogs were still being kept in temporary facilities. and the group were hopeful all of them could be permanently rehomed. Rosedene was temporarily closed in 2010 after an RSPCA raid but it was allowed to reopen later that year.
In the wake of the latest allegations, Walsall Council confirmed inspectors had attended the centre at Radley Road multiple times in 2017 due to rat infestations.
The authority stated the shelter only required a pet shop licence which had to be renewed on an annual basis.
But Ms Williams called on the council to scrutinise the centre more closely in the future.
She added: “The centre should not be given another licence. They were closed down in 2010 and re-opened as a pet shop.
“In my opinion the council has not carried out enough checks on Rosedene and someone needs to be made accountable.”
Following the temporary closure Mr Goodall declared he was committed to running Rosedene professionally. Neither he nor anyone from the centre was available to comment on the planned protest.
Anyone who wishes to join the protest and wants to bring their dogs has been asked to make contact with organisers through a dedicated Facebook group called ‘We Are Their Voice - Rosedene Protest Group’.
