Mon 22nd Sep 2025
We are absolutely thrilled to share the highlights from our Danaher Open Day on Sunday, 31st August 2025 – a day that will be remembered as our biggest and most successful event yet! From the moment the gates opened, the atmosphere was electric. Families, friends, and furry companions of all shapes and sizes came together to enjoy a day filled with fun, community spirit, and wagging tails. (Sorry about the queues!) Thanks to the generosity and support of everyone who attended, we are overjoyed to announce that we raised an astonishing £10,442.10 – the most money we have EVER raised at an Open Day! To put this in perspective, in previous years, our totals have ranged between £4,000 and £6,000. These funds will go directly to supporting animals in need, providing vital care, and helping us continue our mission: Rescue. Rehabilitate. Rehome. Educate.
This year, our volunteer team, The Danateers, took the lead in making the event a seamless success. From planning the dog shows to creating the site layout and assisting with queries throughout the day, their tireless dedication was the backbone of the event. Their efforts ensured that everything ran smoothly and that every visitor had a fantastic experience. We cannot thank them enough!
The dog shows were a highlight, with attendance reaching an all-time high. Competitions ranged from “Junior Handler” to “Golden Oldies,” finishing in the always-heart-warming “Best Rescue” class. Seeing so many former Danaher dogs thriving in their forever homes was a touching reminder of the impact our community helps us make.
A huge thank you to our Dog Class Sponsors for their generous support:
We were also honoured to welcome special VIP guests: Lisa Baggs and family, Rianna (rianna_rottie) and Alex & Olivia Bowen, who generously judged some of the dog shows. You may have seen a film crew following Alex and Olivia around the site... keep an eye out for the new ITV2 show coming in October, where Danaher may just make an appearance!
Visitors enjoyed a huge variety of stalls, offering everything from tasty treats and refreshing drinks to unique handmade gifts. As always, a huge shout out to Jenny Garvey and her BBQ-Crew for a seamless day, providing lots of tasty hot food for our attendees.
We also want to give a special thanks to:
And to all the other volunteers, supporters, and attendees who helped make the day possible – your contributions, big and small, are truly appreciated.
One of our favourite parts of the day as always was seeing so many ex-Danaher dogs and their families return. The “Best Rescue” class in particular showcased the incredible transformations of our former residents. We are also thrilled to report that several of our current residents found their forever homes from being seen on the day – a perfect reminder of why we do what we do.
From everyone at Danaher Animal Home, thank you to all who attended, donated, volunteered, and celebrated alongside us. Together, we have achieved something truly remarkable, raising vital funds to continue our life-changing work for animals in need. Here’s to making next year even bigger and better!
This year we were deeply saddened to say goodbye to our dear friend and former colleague, Jason Bear, who passed away at the age of 54.
Jason first joined Danaher in 2010 as a volunteer dog walker alongside his wife Sam. What began as a simple act of kindness soon grew into over a decade of dedicated service. Over the years, Jason became our Volunteer Coordinator, photographer, IT consultant, and most recently, a Trustee of the charity. His commitment and generosity touched every part of our organisation.
Jason’s love for animals shone through in every aspect of his life. Beyond his work with Danaher, he and Sam opened their home and hearts to five rescue dogs (pictured below) - Rocky, Boycie, Ruby, and Bella, all former Danaher residents, and Pickle from Battersea Dogs Home. Each one was given the perfect, loving home they deserved.
To honour Jason’s memory, his cousin Linda Humphries will be running the 2025 New York Marathon on 2nd November, raising funds to support the animals at Danaher. This tribute is especially fitting, as Jason himself once completed a sponsored 20-mile run from his home in Good Easter to Danaher to raise money for the animals he cared so deeply about.
Jason will be greatly missed by all of us. We will always be grateful for his kindness, dedication, and the lasting legacy he leaves behind.
If you would like to sponsor Linda’s marathon or donate in Jason’s memory, please visit her JustGiving page linked below.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/linda-humphries-5
We also send our very best wishes to Linda and thank her wholeheartedly for this incredible act of support!
On Saturday 16th August, the Danaher Animal Home team were delighted to attend the much-loved Four Colnes Show – a highlight in the local calendar. This year was extra special, as we were honoured to be asked to arrange and run the ever-popular dog shows, which drew in crowds of families, friends, and of course, plenty of wagging tails!
The atmosphere was buzzing throughout the day, with visitors stopping by to meet the team, support the charity, and take part in the fun. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who joined us, we’re thrilled to share that a fantastic amount of money was raised, all of which will go directly towards caring for and rehoming animals in need at Danaher Animal Home.
The dog show itself proved to be one of the biggest attractions of the day, showcasing the incredible bond between owners and their four-legged companions. With everything from waggling tails to look-alike duos, the classes were filled with joy, laughter, and plenty of proud moments.
Here are the results from the day’s classes:
Every single entry made the judges’ decision incredibly tough, and it was heart-warming to see so many happy dogs taking part. From young handlers proudly showing off their pets, to rescue dogs given a second chance and celebrated for their resilience, the competition truly captured celebrating the special role animals play in our lives.
Beyond the ring, the Danaher stall welcomed visitors with information about our work, opportunities to support the charity, and plenty of friendly faces ready to chat. Children enjoyed meeting some of our team, while adults were keen to hear more about how every penny raised goes towards feeding, housing, and providing medical care for animals waiting for their forever homes.
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the organisers of the Four Colnes Show for inviting us, to all the wonderful participants in the dog show, and to everyone who came along to support us on the day. Your kindness and generosity help us continue our mission of giving animals the second chance they deserve.
We’re already looking forward to next year!
Get ready for your chance to win big while making a life-changing difference for animals in need. Our much-loved Open Day Raffle is back, and this year’s top prize is an amazing £150 in cash! With a fantastic selection of both cash and non-cash prizes up for grabs, there’s something for everyone to be excited about.
Tickets are just £1 each and available now at all Danaher shops, online, or by calling 0300 111 4321. Every ticket sold helps us continue providing care, shelter, and second chances to animals looking for their forever homes.
The lucky winners will be drawn on Friday 5th September, so don’t miss your chance to take part. Please note that large prizes must be collected from the Home or one of our shops, while smaller prizes, such as vouchers, can be posted.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the generous individuals and businesses who have donated prizes to support this year’s raffle. Your kindness helps fuel the vital work we do every day at Danaher Animal Home.
Good luck – and thank you for helping us help them!
Full list of prizes
- £150 cash
- £75 cash
- £50 voucher for Sudbury Escape Rooms
- 55 minute free hire at Skratch18 Simulation Centre (Harlow)
- English Spirit Master Distillers tour & tasting gift voucher (Great Yeldham)
- 55 minute Paw Patch enclosed dog walking field session
- East Anglian Railway Museum free family admission
- Shark vacuum cleaner
- Luxury hampers
- Brookstone men's valet organiser
- Audecook multi-function pot
- Mini massage cushion
We’re excited to announce that our Dunmow charity shop will be temporarily closed from Monday 21st July to Monday 4th August for a much-anticipated refurbishment! We're making some wonderful improvements to enhance your shopping experience and can’t wait to welcome you back to a fresh and revitalised space.
Our grand reopening event will take place on Saturday 9th August, and we’d love for you to join us to celebrate the new look.
In the meantime, our other charity shops in Witham, Braintree, Chelmsford, and Sudbury will be open as usual, along with our animal home in Wethersfield, so you can still shop, donate, and support our work while Dunmow gets its exciting update!