Welcome to Kibble & Cocktails – the Fundraising Blog!
- Kitty
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
Hi, I’m Kitty—the one who raises the funds, shakes the tins, dreams up the dares, and yes, occasionally does it all from a sun lounger. If you’ve ever wondered how we turn a handful of coins into life-saving surgeries and front-door zoomies, you’re in the right place.
Meet the Dream-to-Miracle Squad
Kirsty – our event wizard who can turn a village hall into SkegVegas in under an hour.
Shirley – raffle queen, working her magic with every ticket.
Ro – one of our longest-standing legends, sharing stories, stirring support, and keeping the momentum going since day one. (And she’d love you to join Easyfundraising!)
Together we’ve swapped dog dreams for real-life miracles—new hips, new homes, new beginnings—and we’re just getting started. This team fundraises actively six days a week (and sometimes seven), and trust us, the dogs notice.
Why a Fundraising Blog?
Because talking about money shouldn’t feel like chewing a dry biscuit. Here we’ll share:
Behind-the-Scenes Scoops – how we stretch every pound until it yips, and the magic that happens when you join us in making it.
Fundraiser Spotlights – from online raffles to brilliant auctions and our now-famous Virtual Summer Fête.
Success Stories – proof that your pennies put tails back in the air.
Calls to Action – easy ways you can dive in, even if your sofa is already full of dogs.
The Virtual Summer Fête
Let’s talk about one of the biggest highlights on our fundraising calendar: the Virtual Summer Fête.
Now in its fifth glorious year, this summer tradition began back in lockdown, when no one could go out—but we still needed to bring people together. So from the quiet corners of our homes, we launched a joy-filled, community-powered, screen-based spectacular.
What began as a creative solution to a very unusual time became something much bigger: a summer-long celebration packed with raffles, games, auctions, and more—all themed around the classic British fête. We kick off on the last Friday in June and keep the fun rolling until the end of August. There’s something new twice a week, every week, and just like our dogs, no two events are ever the same.
But here’s the truth: this isn’t just for fun (though there’s plenty of that too).
It’s a lifeline.
Summer can be a tough time in rescue. Rehoming often slows down—people are away, budgets are tight, and some dogs stay with us a little longer. That means higher care costs, more mouths to feed, and fewer adoption fees coming in. The Virtual Summer Fête helps fill that gap—keeping the kibble coming when things would otherwise go quiet.
We still celebrate it five years on because it’s not just a fundraiser—it’s a symbol of what our community can do when we pull together.
And it’s almost here.
Our 2025 Virtual Summer Fête is just around the corner, and we’ll be featuring it—right here on the blog. If you want to know what’s coming up, how it’s going behind the scenes, and where your support is making real change, this is the place to be.
Join the Party
Want the first sniff at new events, raffles, and the joyful chaos that keeps our dogs moving forward? Join our dedicated Facebook fundraising group – Saving Balkan Boxer Dogs Rescue Fundraising Group – and come behind the scenes with us. It’s where all the action happens.
Watch this space – we’ve got an exciting line-up planned just for you. And for the dogs, of course. It’s always about the dogs.
Until then, shake a glass or shake a bone—and remember:
“The reason the kibble keeps coming.”
Thank you for your support,
Kitty
TTFN!