Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett

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

STEALTH, Saw, Colossus? What would you call a new rollercoaster if you had to name one?

Clare Williams, chief executive officer at the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) knows her answer. She describes being the CEO during the Covid-19 crisis as like being on a rollercoaster called Uncertainty.

Although it’s hard to think of any highs on this rollercoaster, one of the downs is that, because rehoming centres have not been open to the public for several months, income has decreased.

Importantly, as NAWT point out, animal rehoming centres like NAWT have missed out on emergency government funding to cover such income losses.

The Treasury has awarded Covid-19 funding to zoos and aquariums but animal welfare services for domestic pets have been excluded. This is despite the benefits pets bring to people.

Only last November, Mayhew outlined to MPs in Westminster, research which showed how animals can help people by, for example, reducing loneliness (Gazette Nov 13).

Without financial help, some rescues, may have to close. This is not good news especially in view of the anticipated spike in unwanted animals which rehoming centres are bracing themselves for when lockdown restrictions are fully lifted.

In order to address this issue, NAWT are asking us to join them in requesting the government to urgently allocate funds for animal rescue centres. To help us with this, NAWT have published an easy-touse template letter on their website (nawt.org.uk), that we can send to our MP.

NAWT has six centres throughout the country but our nearest one is at Watford where ex-racing greyhound, Flame, is waiting for a home. She’s a friendly girl who loves to be around people. She can forget her manners at times, so will need to continue basic training in her new home. If you are interested in homing Flame, see details on nawt.org. uk and call 020 8950 0177.

The Watford rehoming centre is still closed to the public, although the centre manager, Jackie de Friez, is hoping it may reopen in September. In the meantime, if you’re going away, the centre can take cats, dogs and small animals for holiday boarding. This includes animals such as chickens, ferrets, hamsters and terrapins which may be difficult to find holiday accommodation for. Booking information is available on their website.

NAWT’s charity shop has now reopened. They are accepting donations between 10am-11am but items must be bagged or boxed and cleaned/washed/wiped. Please phone first (Tel: 01923 227141). The shop is at New Road, Watford WD17 2EX.

Flame