A dog trainer has been left “heartbroken” after thieves broke into her premises and stole materials set aside to create a safe shelter for vulnerable animals.

Carly Fernandez, who runs Carly’s Canine Coaching, based in Cliffe Woods, had bought an “immense amount of equipment” over the summer, and had wood and other materials donated so she could build the new structure.

But on Wednesday, October 29, she discovered the equipment had been stolen overnight.

She explained: “There was just this big empty space where all this equipment had been collected to build the shelter that we were looking to build.

“A lot of wood and timber went, as well as things like brackets and lighting equipment – everything that you would need to build a shelter.

“Where the field is, it's so remote. There was probably about £2,000 worth of stuff, all in all.

“They would have needed two people to get it all, and a big van. There was a lot of stuff.

“It’s heartbreaking. When we took over the field around a year ago, it was an overgrown mess.

“We've worked so hard last year paying thousands to get it looking nice, and then this happens as we’re about to get to the final bit.”

Carly, who has been training dogs since 2019, runs a range of classes and is also the director of Major Power GRC, a relationship-based sport between dogs and owners for all breeds and abilities.

She says GRC, which stands for gameness, relationship, and control, “gives dogs the outlet they deserve and bridges gaps between reactivity and neutrality”.

She rents the field with Rosie Nicholls, who owns Nellie’s Raw Dog Deli & Bakery, and they let rescues use the land to take dogs on.

They have also hosted events on the field for local rescue open days and training days, where profits go to charity.

Carly explained: “The vision was that we wanted to build a shelter, which would mean we could work with dogs throughout the winter.

“It would also mean we would have some light out on the field because it’s pitch black out there.

“We foster dogs from rescues, so we wanted somewhere they could see as a safe space, rather than being in a vast open space.

“We also wanted the safe shelter to go up so rescue dogs worried about vast spaces had somewhere to decompress.”

One of Carly’s friends set up a fundraiser in an effort to raise enough money to replace the stolen materials, with an initial target of £250.

However, after receiving an “amazing response”, the target has been increased to £2,000. Donations can be made here.

The dog trainer added: “I've got such a nice client base of people in rescue that we support, and they shared it, and it just got out of control.

“So now the vision is that we could raise enough to buy it and have someone build it.

“It would also mean that we could have a steel frame shed put up rather than wood.

“We’re going to keep the fundraiser open until Christmas, with the view that it can be built and up for spring.”

They will also be holding a fundraising event at Cliffe Memorial Hall on December 14, with dog-themed stalls, a raffle, and a range of activities.