Andrina Morton (www.sbtfun.com) and Wendy Clewley (www.cleverstaffords.co.uk) organised an auction on eBay to raise the necessary funds. Many well known Stafford owners and breeders from all over the World donated items from their own collection and the auction, which ran from 17th June for 3 weeks, received tremendous support.

SBT Aid raised money not only by means of the well-publicised eBay auction but also by selling goods on the online shops and from cash donations.  There was an agility run by David Levy at the East Anglian S.B.T.C. Champ show that raised £300.  A total of 300 Euros (approx £214.00) was collected at the Cork SBT Society Champ show on 1st June 2003. 

Seven of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Clubs in the UK helped by donating cash and auction items as did two Australian Clubs, the Spanish SBT Club and the French SBT Club via a donation by Sharon Levy.

The fund raising campaign by SBT Aid surpassed everybody's expectations and over £7,000 was raised. 

The fund-raising had the backing of the SBT Breed Council and all monies are being deposited in the Council's Westminster Fund. "The fund was originally founded to oppose breed specific legislation in the UK." says David Levy, the Kennel Club's Liaison Officer for Staffords, " but it is increasingly becoming an international campaign to protect our breed."

Items for the auction, donations and bids have come from all over the world.  Items auctioned have ranged from badges and cards at £3 or £4 to a rare 1947 4th edition "Joseph Dunn" (The Staffordshire Bull Terrier) that raised £310. Some of the more unusual items have included a Christmas cake yet to be baked and several soft toy Staffords. A much prized item was an original oil painting by the vice-President of the Spanish SBT Club, Sr. Pepe Ojados raised £210 and a signed limited edition print by artist Paul Doyle raised £232.

"We have had a superb show collar and lead by Hide and Collars bought at auction by a Stafford owner in Germany", says Andrina.      The Duchess of Hamilton donated a collection of Stafford magazines and yearbooks, the sale of which has so far raised over £750 for SBT Aid.  Two copies of The Kennel Club's "Treasures of THE KENNEL CLUB", signed by KC staff were also snapped up.  Various British companies also provided donations, including The Company of Animals, Pets at Home, Dog World, Lynniel Arts & Illustration, www.photogift.co.uk and Sally Mitchell Fine Arts.    Two Ramblix ornaments and 3 books were donated by the Hedges and Juanita Crawford  of South Africa  generously donated many books and calendars for sale in the shop and  for  auction.   A full list of donors can be found on www.sbtfun.com. 

"The main auction ended in July 2003 and the total bids exceeded £5,000", says Wendy Clewley.  "We plan to carry on indefinitely at a less frenetic pace as items become available in order to maintain an emergency reserve fund available to the Breed Council to assist Stafford owners anywhere in the World."

Anyone wishing to donate auction items for the various mini-auctions due to take place over the coming months should contact sbt.aid@ntlworld.com or telephone Andrina on 0141.942.8877 or Wendy on 01945 476818.  If you wish to purchase something from the online shop or make a cash donation towards the Westminster Fund please access www.sbtfun.com or www.cleverstaffords.co.uk and follow the links.