Charities still looking after animals in need
A fall in income and a reduction in the number of volunteers are just some of the issues that are facing West Sussex animal sanctuaries and rescue centres during the ongoing virus epidemic
Animal sanctuaries and rescue centres have spoken of the problems they are facing in continuing to care for animals during the coronavirus crisis.
Some have lost vital income, due to having to close their charity shops, while volunteer numbers have reduced due to people isolating due to the virus.
Rehoming of animals has also been harder for some charities.
But all are continuing to work hard and do their best for the animals in their care.
The Cat and Rabbit Rescue Centre has been taking in animals at Holborow Lodge, Chalder Lane, Sidlesham, near Chichester since 1986.
Claire Hyde, from the centre, said: “We are doing okay. The centre is still running with minimal staff to care for the 200 animals we currently have.
It has had an impact, with our three charity shops being closed since March but the public have been very generous and supportive with donations.
“We are now looking forward and trying to plan for the next phase, working hard to look at what changes we have to make for the shops re-opening and people adopting animals.
“The number of animals we care for could go up to 350 in the summer months and could be higher as vets have only been doing emergency procedures and not neutering, so we could see a rise in the number of unwanted kittens.
“A number of NHS staff have had to give up their pets during the pandemic.
“We need to rehome animals in order to take in more but that is difficult at the moment. We have been looking at virtual re-homing.”
The Clymping Dog Sanctuary, in Ford, has been has been working to rehome dogs since 1952 and is entirely volunteer run.
Maxine Pears, from the charity, said: “The lockdown has affected our Sanctuary in ways we could never have imagined. We rely completely on donations and fundraising events to support ourselves and of course we have had to cancel all our events and we had lots planned. Our income is down to a trickle and we are struggling.
“We had been saving up for a Portacabin which we desperately need but that money will have to be used just for daily running costs. The pandemic has set us back years financially.
“We have not been able to rehome any dogs as we had to close to visitors and we couldn’t do home checks or follow ups. Dogs are still coming into us however and they all need feeding, treating and caring for.
“The Sanctuary has been in existence for almost 75 years. We are determined to carry on but we need help from the community to do this until life returns back to normal. The good news is the dogs we have are healthy and happy and hopefully we can find them loving, forever homes soon.”
Donations can be made via our Facebook page or at www. clympingdogsanctuary.co.uk.
The National Cat Adoption Centre, in Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, is still caring for as many cats and kittens as they possibly can, providing food, shelter and medication. The centre depends 100 per cent on donations, and has been badly affected by lockdown.
Jill Clark, who works as a secretary there, said: “Behind the scenes, our teams of dedicated employees and volunteers are working incredibly hard to keep every cat in our care fed, warm, happy and stimulated. This means that the costs of caring for them don’t stop.
“Sadly donations aren’t keeping pace. Our charity shops are closed, sponsored runs, bike rides, bake sales and other fundraising events have been cancelled.”
Jill raised nearly £500 for the Centre by writing and performing the Covid Cat
Rap.
Worthing-based Wadars is a leading animal welfare charity and has been rescuing wildlife and rehoming companion animals since 1969.
Wadars operations manager Tracy Cadman said: “When we first went into lockdown it was quite an anxious time because whilst we could base our office staff at home, our animal care team still needed to come in every day and look after the animals. Added to that we had to ask our amazing volunteers not to come in, which has put additional pressure on staff. Over the weeks we have all settled into something of a new normal for the time being and of course have strict social distancing protocols in place for anyone working on site.”
“At first we had to suspend all homing of animals and we were obviously concerned about how they would cope if the full lockdown went on for too long.
“More recently, Defra has approved guidelines to allow rescues to rehome some animals and we have managed to place several, although we can only home the ones that are fairly straightforward. Again, we had to put strict protocols in placing for homing and because potential adopters can’t come to our site to view them, we are carrying out video calls to introduce them to animals that they might be a match for. The process has worked well so far, and we hope to be able to home a few more animals over the coming weeks.”
“In addition to our pet rehoming work we also operate a wildlife rescue service and this time of year is extremely busy with lots of baby birds coming in having fallen from their nests.
“Our wildlife staff are even having to take baby birds home to feed them at the moment, and our Rescue Officers are out and about every day in the animal ambulances, responding to calls from concerned members of the public.”
“I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone that has supported Wadars over the weeks since lockdown began. If anyone would like to help now, the best way they can do that would be either by making a donation via our website or posting a cheque to our centre in Hangleton Lane, Ferring.”
The Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, in Shoreham, is currently closed to the public but is now able to start looking for new homes for some of the dogs in their care. Chris Barnard, rehoming centre assistant manager, said: “In these unprecedented and challenging times, we are currently looking after 41 dogs at Dogs Trust Shoreham.
“Without the help of the dog loving local public, we would not be able to give our wonderful dogs everything they
‘The lockdown has affected us in ways we could never have imagined the pandemic has set us back years financially’ MAXINE PEARS Clymping Dog Sanctuary