Vets raising bags of money to help rhinos
Group are urging people to donate
TWO Hillingdon borough vets are calling for good quality used clothing, shoes, handbags, curtains and bedding to help their efforts to raise funds to help rhinos injured by poachers.
The Goddard Veterinary Group practices in Uxbridge and Hayes End are collecting the clothes and other items which are then sold on, with all funds raised going to Saving the Survivors, a small charity which enables vets to treat wildlife in Africa, and related charity The Wilderness Foundation.
Lee-Ann Higgins, vet at the Uxbridge branch of Goddard Veterinary Group who is from South Africa, said: “Almost all the surviving rhinos live in South Africa where they are being killed at a rate of about four a day.
“To avoid alerting rangers, poachers are increasingly darting and immobilising them before cutting off their horns and leaving them to die from blood loss and shock.
“It’s a terrible situation but, each year, about 100 rhinos survive long enough to be treated and this is where Saving the Survivors helps. The vets it supports are carrying out pioneering treatment to help these rhinos recover.”
The Wilderness Fund runs initiatives, including the training of tracker dogs, which deters the local trackers who help the poachers.
Ms Higgins added: “We all care passionately about the future of these wonderful animals which is why we have launched our appeal for second hand clothes and other items which can be sold on to raise funds. We would be very grateful for donations to be brought to either of our practices.”
Goddard Veterinary Group Uxbridge is based at 64 The Greenway and can be contacted on 01865 233095.
The Hayes End branch is at 1334 – 1336 Uxbridge Road, Hayes End, Middlesex, and can be contacted on 020 8561 2123.