ONE OF Sunderland’s best loved snowdogs will be making the city its forever home, after a group of organisations banded together to buy him.
The highly successful Great North Snowdogs trail ended last month (Nov) with the 61 dogs going under the hammer at an auction at Sage Gateshead to raise funds for St Oswald’s Children’s Hospice.
And now Tails of the Sea – which was in residence at Keel Square during the trail – will be permanently based at the former Vaux site, after Sunderland BID, the Bridges and city developers Siglion joined forces.
But visitors to the city don’t have to wait to see the dog is placed in his new home, as he will be spending the festive season enjoying pride of place at Sunderland’s Frost Village.
Tails of the Sea will have a temporary home at Keel Square – on the day that plans will be unveiled for a new city landmark.
David Roberts, director of igloo, Siglion’s development manager, revealed that tomorrow (13 December) visitors will not only be able to see the snowdog but will be able to see a presentation which will showcase an exciting development at the site.
“It’s perfect that Sunderland’s seafaring snowdog will be back with us on Tuesday when we reveal our plans for a new city landmark that will honour the city’s shipbuilding days,” he said.
“From 1pm to 7pm the Keel Square big screen will showcase our proposals, with our team on hand to explain our designs.”
More than £250,000 was raised by the snowdogs auction, following what has been the North East’s most successful public art trail, with more than £40,000 of the total coming from the Sunderland pack.
Gemma Dishman, Marketing and Communications Manager at Sunderland BID and who bid at the auction, said Tails of the Sea was the perfect pooch to remain in the city.
“All of the snowdogs have been fantastic but this one is of special significance and provides a link between Sunderland’s proud shipbuilding history and the exciting developments and growth which are now taking place,” she said.
“We had our heart set on this particular dog and so we were thrilled that we were able to come together and bring him home.”
Samantha Czwordon-Wright, marketing manager at the Bridges, added that the trail had brought many people into the city.
“We had two dogs in the Bridges plus some of the smaller dogs and the interest in them was phenomenal,” she said.
“It gave us a great opportunity to showcase to visitors what Sunderland has to offer who might not otherwise have come to the city.
“The fact that we will have a permanent reminder with a dog that has a real link with Sunderland is great news and we’re delighted to have been able to support it.”.
The money raised from the auction will be going towards the day-to-day running of the children’s unit at St Oswald’s Hospice.