AN ADVENTURE firm offering sleddog treks through the Alwen Forest has warned rising costs may force it to close.
Mynydd Sleddog Adventures has 20 working Siberian Huskies and provides experiences for people to ride on a dry sled through the Conwy woodland or, for the bold, to pilot their own husky sled.
In addition to being a visitor attraction, it offers specialist programmes for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services specifically designed to help those with complex needs engage with their environment.
But the business is under threat as rising costs - particularly insurance and food - squeeze the finances of owners Joe and Mark Swiffen.
"We just don't know what else to do," said Joe. "We started the business in January of 2020 - not knowing the pandemic was coming.
"Despite not qualifying for support we kept going and things were going well. We did not take money out of the business for wages, but we were making enough to run it, making a positive difference to people and were able to care for the dogs welfare so everything was on the right track."
That was until prices started to really rise. Joe's insurance bill leapt from £1,500 to £3,500 while the monthly bill to feed the dogs rose from around £700 per month to £1,300 per month. Vets bills and other costs also went up significantly too.
Coupled with the pressure of repaying business startup loans, Joe says Mynydd Sleddog Adventures may not survive much longer.
"If I am 100% honest, I am not convinced we will be around next summer," she wrote in a Facebook post.
"Whether it be through adventure tourism or outdoor education, from the outset, I wanted my business to engage and inspire people. I wanted it to thrive and grow, being the best it can be. I have done everything in my power to enable this to happen and more! I’ve bust my guts, put my heart and soul into it, for the last 5 years and taken nothing financially from it, except a warm fuzzy feeling that I’ve done something good for my dogs and for other people, but warm fuzzy feelings aren’t sustainable and don’t pay the bills."
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What has paid the bills to date has been her incredible work with young people. In addition to working with NHS providers and youth and adult mental health services she also runs a Junior Dogsled Academy where young people can learn to run their own team of sleddogs.
As well as being one of a small number of UK centres to offer this, Mynydd also offers credits through Agored Cymru, which means youngsters who take part can include it on their UCAS applications for university.
So popular is the scheme that one girl travels from Brighton every other week to train with Joe.
"It's incredible to see the positive impact of sleddogs on young people in particular," Joe told the Pioneer. "Before I started this business I was a careers adviser working with youth offending teams and the probation service.
"Walking with my dogs helped kids open up and encouraged them to engage. When I was walking round a neighbourhood with my Siberian Huskies kids would flood out and want to meet the dog, which started a conversation.
"Without them the streets would often seem empty. I've seen dramatic impacts from my work with CAMHS too.
"One girl was highly agoraphobic, she had not left the house for a year. But she would come on walks through the forest because she liked to stroke the dogs. Working with adults, we have had individuals come to us through schemes we ran with the NHS who had complex personality disorders - but they would come here and our activities would help them connect and engage in a positive way.
"That's what I fear we will lose, that positive impact on people, but we need to find a way to make ends meet."
In an effort to bridge the gap, Joe has set up a Gofundme page here where people can donate to help save Mynydd Sleddog Adventures.
Unlike other struggling businesses that can mothball equipment, Joe's team of dogs still need to be fed and cared for.
"Our dogs and their welfare is paramount," said Joe. "We never rehome our dogs. They are part of our family and we will always keep them and look after them.
"Most of them are getting older now, seven, eight, we have a couple of 10-year-olds. They need a good quality of life and care and that will aways come first.
"I got my first Siberian Husky in 2001 as I loved the book and film White Fang growing up and that was the closest dog I could get to that.
"But I quickly realised that walkies would not be enough, so I got involved with the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain who really helped me out.
"I started to take in rescues and rehomed huskies and moved around, first to Scotland then France, learning how to lead a sleddog team.
"That passion - and the impact I saw working with dogs had on young people, inspired me to create Mynydd Sleddog Adventures and I still believe the work we do is vital.
"I know there are many people struggling and worse off than us out there, but this business has had a truly positive effect on a lot of people's lives. I really want to be able to keep doing that."
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