Appeal launched to help save H4P

AN APPEAL has gone out to nearly 6,000 followers of Hope 4 Pets (H4P) to step up and save the animal charity after its closure was announced last week.

The potential lifeline follows an outpouring of support after the charity announced last week that, due to time pressures and financial problems in the face of the economic crisis, it would cease activities on October 31.

Supporters are being asked to set up a standing order or direct debit to the charity or to become a paid member. Donations of “as little or as much as you can spare” may be made through bank accounts, or paid membership, at 50TL a year, can be taken out at the Çatalköy Lemar Wednesday market stall, the Food Lodge in Çatalköy or the Saturday Lambousa Market stall.

People are also being asked to volunteer to help H4P with tasks including collecting animals in need, transportation to vets and fundraising events such as weekly stalls and raffles.

Chairman Stephanie Harrison-Croft said H4P’s trustees had met to try to put together a rescue plan.

“Various ideas were discussed, but the most important was funding, and volunteers. Whilst events are a good way of funding, H4P need a regular income to pay vet bills, these bills are increasing by up to 40 per cent because of the exchange rate of the TL.

“Feedback from our members has shown that most did not realise that the charity was so small, and that it relies totally on donations.

“We appealed six months ago to all members of the Facebook group to help a little by setting up a monthly standing order for just £1 or now 10TL and only 34 people out of nearly 6,000 did this! If only half of the 6,000 had done so before we would have had the funds to carry on.

“We have agreed to wait until October 31 to make a final decision; it is now up to the 6,000 members to save H4P.”

Donation routes are listed on the charity’s Facebook page or its hope4petsnorthcyprus.com website, under the “Help Us” menu.