An aquarist at Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay who was sponsored not to speak for an entire day has raised more than £450 for a local animal rescue centre.
Jenny Youngs successfully completed a full day at work at the Towan Promenade aquarium without talking once.
She took the temporary vow of silence to raise money for the Last Chance Hotel charity which works to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home abused and neglected animals.
Six months ago she adopted a dog called Louis from the Last Chance Hotel and decided she wanted to do her bit to help the centre.
“Staying quiet for nine hours straight was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done,” said Jenny.
“Normally I am a very talkative person and I found it very frustrating to not be able to communicate even the simplest thing.
“I ended up with five pages of written notes for the other staff and endless messages for visitors.
“The toughest moments during the silence were trying to get someone’s attention
as they walked away or were not looking at me.
“I had a sign around my neck to explain what I was doing and I was overwhelmed with the level of support and the generosity of everyone,” she added.
The money will be used to rehome more dogs and provide them with vet care. Last year alone, their vet bill was over £32,000.
The Last Chance Hotel take in dogs of any kind, ones that other rescue centres cannot take, including ex-bait and ex-fight dogs, the sick, the aged and the terminally ill.
The dogs are then either rehabilitated and go to new homes or remain at the hotel for life. No animal is ever destroyed because they cannot be homed.
They are always looking for long and short term fosterers, as well as new loving permanent homes.
Issued by Blue Reef Aquarium. For more information please contact Lucy Hackett, Jenny Youngs or Steve Matchett on 01637 878134.