Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett

Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column

THIS is serious. The RSPCA have just announced proposals which would mean the closure of Putney Animal Hospital, Southall Cattery and Clinic, the Lockwood Equine Centre and South Godstone Animal Centre.

Proposed changes are also likely to affect the RSPCA Wimbledon, Wandsworth and Sutton branch as they use the premises at Putney.

These proposals are being presented as part of a ten-year strategy to restructure RSPCA services and make the charity sustainable for the future.

Following hot on the heels of the closure of the Hanwell RSPCA clinic in 2016, this news is potentially devastating for animals in the area.

It’s not as though their needs will go away.

A letter from Cats Protection in last week’s Gazette highlighted the problem that because fewer vets were doing neutering during lockdown, it’s likely that 84,000 extra kittens could be born this summer. Not all of these are going to find themselves in loving homes. If anything, rescue facilities for animals need to increase not decrease.

The RSPCA say changes are needed as, without them, they are predicting a £47million hole in their finances over the next three years.

We need to keep our ear to the ground over this. Undoubtedly money is tight, not just for the RSPCA but also pet owners.

As the effects of Covid-19 continue to bite into people’s health and finances, more pet owners are likely to need help with veterinary care from an animal charity.

Key factors which influence whether or not a pet owner is eligible for such help include which benefits the owner is receiving and where they live. A

lthough the RSPCA say they are confident they can still help animals from the affected areas, we need to be vigilant.

The clinics the RSPCA propose to close, treat animals in postcodes not normally covered by any other animal charity hospital.

For example Southall Clinic treats animals from W3, W5, W7, W13 – areas not covered by other RSPCA, Blue Cross or PDSA clinics. (Postcode eligibility is worthy of a column in its own right).

Even if there is reallocation of postcodes, animals are likely to have to travel further for treatment.

Things we can do to help include telling people about the potential closures, writing to our MP, signing the petition against the closures and supporting our local centres in every way possible so they stay open.

Also, of course, not forgetting, that if we use the services of the RSPCA, to contribute as much as we can to their costs.

■ Visit change.org to sign the petitions against closure