Latest news with #WoodlandsAnimalSanctuary
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Cash-strapped Lancashire animal sanctuary launches £30k appeal
A Lancashire animal rescue charity has launched an appeal to raise £30,000 amid a "perfect storm" of financial Animal Sanctuary, based in Holmeswood, said the financial strain of accepting more pets was compounded by regular donors pausing or cancelling monthly trustee Vickie Blackburn said: "Families are struggling, and sadly that means more animals are being surrendered or simply left to fend for themselves."The RSPCA said it fears increasing financial hardships "have led to the increase in people dumping their pets." Ms Blackburn said the charity had been "turning away umpteen cats every single day that are still in desperate need of help".She continued: "We've taken mums and kittens in alphabetical order this year, and we've already completed the alphabet once and we are back to J again – and that's just mums and kittens, that's not individual cats that aren't with kittens." She said the charity asks for a £95 donation for rehoming a cat, but they spend £400 in vet fees, food and rehabilitation costs per sanctuary has so far raised more than £4,400, which Ms Blackburn described as "a great start to the campaign".The charity has previously been saved by donations made the public, which enabled it to survive "a bleak few months". Other animal sanctuaries in Lancashire have reported similar funding issues. One of them - Hugo's Small Animal Rescue - has stopped taking in new animals RSPCA said its national and branch-run animal rehoming centres are now full and operating waiting year, the charity handled 22,503 incidents of animals being abandoned, and staff have encouraged prospective owners to "really do their research" before taking on the responsibility of a new pet. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shelter expects tariffs to mean more pets abandoned
An animal sanctuary has said it is bracing itself for "another tidal wave of rescue cases" if Donald Trump's trade tariffs put extra financial pressure on UK pet owners. Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in Holmeswood, Lancashire, said existing cost-of-living pressures had made the past winter much busier than previous years, and that its cattery was full by March. The sanctuary said 90% of the animals it had taken in were given up by owners who could no longer afford to keep them or who were facing eviction from their homes. There have been warnings that tariffs could be set to have a broader impact on the UK, for example on interest rates and retail prices. Woodlands trustee and volunteer Vickie Blackburn said: "In 20 years we have never seen anything like it." She added: "Cats being given up due to financial pressures used to be around one or two in every 10 cases, but now it's the majority of our work." Ms Blackburn said it prevented the sanctuary from helping animals "most in need" with "complex issues". "But we can't do that if we're basically a rehoming hub for domestic cats whose owners can no longer afford to keep them," she added. The charity had already launched a pet food bank to help pet owners who are struggling financially, and was working to raise awareness of the importance of having a cat neutered. British exporters face an extra charge on goods sold into the US since a blanket 10% tariff was imposed by the US Government earlier this month. Animal shelters across the UK have been reporting a spike in pets being surrendered due to cost of living pressures. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Shelter rehomes record number of cats this year 'We're rehoming more dogs due to cost of living'
BBC News
12-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Shelter expects Trump tariffs to mean more pets are abandoned
An animal sanctuary has said it is bracing itself for "another tidal wave of rescue cases" if Donald Trump's trade tariffs put extra financial pressure on UK pet owners. Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in Holmeswood, Lancashire, said existing cost-of-living pressures had made the past winter much busier than previous years, and that its cattery was full by March. The sanctuary said 90% of the animals it had taken in were given up by owners who could no longer afford to keep them or who were facing eviction from their homes. There have been warnings that tariffs could be set to have a broader impact on the UK, for example on interest rates and retail prices. Woodlands trustee and volunteer Vickie Blackburn said: "In 20 years we have never seen anything like it."She added: "Cats being given up due to financial pressures used to be around one or two in every 10 cases, but now it's the majority of our work."Ms Blackburn said it prevented the sanctuary from helping animals "most in need" with "complex issues". "But we can't do that if we're basically a rehoming hub for domestic cats whose owners can no longer afford to keep them," she added. The charity had already launched a pet food bank to help pet owners who are struggling financially, and was working to raise awareness of the importance of having a cat neutered. British exporters face an extra charge on goods sold into the US since a blanket 10% tariff was imposed by the US Government earlier this month. Animal shelters across the UK have been reporting a spike in pets being surrendered due to cost of living pressures. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
