Birmingham Dogs Home welcomed hundreds of supporters to its first-ever Country Music Festival on Saturday 22nd August, raising over £9,500 to help provide lifesaving care for dogs in need — including Boris, a two‑year‑old pug cross recovering from extensive surgery.
The event brought together some of the best country artists, with performances from Kassidy Kiernan, Two Ways Home, Buckle ‘N’ Boots and radio DJ Harry Colley from Country Roads Radio on Cheshire Mix 56. The festival combined live music, fundraising activities and community spirit to support the charity’s work with homeless and abandoned dogs.
Boris’s story
Boris arrived at Birmingham Dogs Home as a stray, suffering from a severely prolapsed eye — an injury that had clearly caused him significant pain for some time. On arrival, he was understandably grumpy and defensive, and the veterinary team made the difficult decision to remove his damaged eye.
Once free from pain, Boris’s personality transformed. He became affectionate, playful and eager for human company. However, his journey to a new home has been far from simple. As a pug cross, Boris also struggled with breathing difficulties, leading the team to carry out BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) surgery to improve his long-term quality of life.
Boris is now recovering under the charity’s veterinary team, who remain hopeful he will soon be ready to begin his search for a forever family.
Why fundraising matters
Boris is just one of more than 2,000 dogs rescued by Birmingham Dogs Home each year — many of whom require emergency treatment, medication, behavioural support and months of rehabilitation before they can be rehomed.
It costs the charity around £6,000 every day to operate its centres in Solihull and Wolverhampton. With no government funding, Birmingham Dogs Home relies entirely on public donations and fundraising events like the Country Festival to continue providing essential care.
A successful first festivalRachel Frost, Events and Community Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Dogs Home, said: “Our first ever ‘Country Music Festival’ was a great success. It was wonderful to see so many Country and Western fans helping us to raise funds to ensure that thousands of dogs like Boris can continue to receive the care and support they need.
“We're also incredibly grateful to our supporters, volunteers, stallholders and local businesses who came together and helped us make the festival possible.
If you would like to donate to help more dogs like Boris, visit: https://birminghamdogshome.org.uk/support-us/donate/
