Jitka Krizova shares the success of her virtual Style to Rescue

from Total Grooming Magazine June 2021

by Cogent Multimedia Ltd

News

Virtual Style to Rescue Success

This year’s Style to Rescue event raised almost £4000 for dog rescue centres with a virtual one-day event. Founder and organiser, Jitka Krizova explains:

Best in Show 2019

Due to the pandemic, we had to say goodbye to our live charity event this year again. But we didn’t say goodbye to raising money for the rescue centres. Once again, we proved that we humans are adaptable by rolling up our virtual sleeves and organising a fantastic (in our humble opinion) day packed with virtual seminars for dog groomers and dog lovers. Joined by Pooch Perfect semi-finalist Mich Dale and her gorgeous Westie, International Reiki Master Rob Fellows, grooming industry guru Julie Harris… Amazing Louisa Tandy demonstrated 4 steps to doodle elegance, and OMG, what a transformation it was. After just a few moves with the clippers, Teddy became taller, slimmer, prouder, and definitely more elegant!

Thanks to these fantastic speakers, and a few more, we learned a lot, we had fun, and most of all, we raised lots of money for the rescues.

Dogs Trust predicts tens of thousands of stray or abandoned dogs could need help as a result of the pandemic - and warns it’s already starting to see the impact of the Coronavirus crisis.

The charity is warning we could see a sharp rise in the number of dogs being given up or put to sleep if families struggle to cope with the resulting hardships of the crisis.

Because of the crises, the dog charities are also have had no income from events, supermarket collections, charity shops, etc.

I’m the founder of Vita Canis – a company that prides itself on producing natural aromatherapy for dogs and their owners, and happy dog mum to five mischievous terriers.

And my love of all dogs was the reason why I started Vita Canis Style to Rescue, and I am so passionate about this charity dog grooming competition for rescue dogs.

Style To Rescue is an innovative way of supporting rescue organisations and helping rescues find their new forever homes. The dogs are groomed beautifully by experienced, professional groomers and spoiled to bits with care and loving kindness. It is important to us that the dogs being groomed always feel safe and loved before, during, and after the groom! The rescue centres receive financial support whether their dogs win or not! Style to Rescue is run on a not-for-profit basis by volunteers.

In 2018 we raised about £4500, and in 2019 just over £7500. Unfortunately, last year and this year, our live event had to be cancelled. Even though the Style to Rescue 2021 was different, we are still fulfilling our mission: to help those who can’t help themselves.

Here is what Hessa from Hessa’s Homeless Hounds says about Style

to Rescue: “A friend of mine told me about style to rescue and asked if I had any dogs that needed grooming, I sent five I think the first year and was thrilled at how lovely they looked when they came back and I could see the time that went into their grooming and also the care that they received. Two of the dogs were paralysed so needed special attention. I got some lovely photos back and I could see they had been well looked after by the groomers. This enabled me to get some lovely homes for some of the dogs as they looked so gorgeous afterwards.”

The rescue centres who benefitted:

The rescue centres we support: Many Tears Animal Rescue Wheels to Paws UK Hessa’s Homeless Hounds Petwelfare Stafford Poodles from Portugal Scottish Terrier Emergency Rescue (STECs) Doodle Aid Hope to see you there ‘live’ next year.

Special thanks to sponsors of the day: SAVVY pet spa and Whippet media. Thanks also to Peanut & Pickles, For all Dog Kind, Artero UK, Sue Atkin, Scruffy Little Terrier, Facemasks by Iveta, Kate Smith – for their raffle donations.