COVID-19: Rescue Centres and shelters need help!
The Covid19 social distancing restrictions currently in place have had a dramatic effect on all of our lives, in more or less every way you can imagine. They’ve affected how we care for our pets too, from how we exercise dogs to what veterinary care we can access; and they have also had a direct, acute and serious impact on pet rehoming centres, and one that will generate a knock-on effect that in the weeks or months to come, and that may spell disaster for many such shelters, which are full to capacity, short of funds, and struggling to cope even in normal times.
Due to the social distancing regulations currently in place, most rehoming centres are unable to allow people to adopt pets from them at the moment, because it would be impossible to enable pet viewings and home assessment visits without close contact between staff and the general public. However, pets in need have not simply stopped being surrendered and needing homes in respect of this; and additionally, the wider impact of the Covid19 crisis and social distancing regulations are all brewing to create a perfect storm for pet rehoming charities that will be acute, serious, and hugely problematic.
How can you help?
Donate money if possible; shelters are always short of funds, and by donating money you can help them to fund the areas they most need help with, and help to continue to provide care. Check with individual shelters too, to find out what else they need that you can assist with or supply.Many, if not most rehoming shelters are not accepting new volunteers at present in order to maintain social distancing. However, if and when staffing levels fall and the need becomes acute, many will have no choice but to seek new volunteers, foster carers, dog walkers, and other forms of support; and they may also need help in other ways too, such as asking people to collect food donations and assist in other matters.
What any charity or shelter needs and can benefit from might be quite variable, and so it is far better to ask than to assume and perhaps inadvertently put your energies into something that won’t offer huge benefit despite your best intentions.
Rescue centres donation funds
Below are links to some of the larger rescue centres and animal welfare organizations in the UK. Do you run a rescue centre and want to be featured here? Please write us on support@pets4homes.co.uk.
COVID-19: Rescue Centres and shelters need help!
The Covid19 social distancing restrictions currently in place have had a dramatic effect on all of our lives, in more or less every way you can imagine. They’ve affected how we care for our pets too, from how we exercise dogs to what veterinary care we can access; and they have also had a direct, acute and serious impact on pet rehoming centres, and one that will generate a knock-on effect that in the weeks or months to come, and that may spell disaster for many such shelters, which are full to capacity, short of funds, and struggling to cope even in normal times.
Due to the social distancing regulations currently in place, most rehoming centres are unable to allow people to adopt pets from them at the moment, because it would be impossible to enable pet viewings and home assessment visits without close contact between staff and the general public. However, pets in need have not simply stopped being surrendered and needing homes in respect of this; and additionally, the wider impact of the Covid19 crisis and social distancing regulations are all brewing to create a perfect storm for pet rehoming charities that will be acute, serious, and hugely problematic.
How can you help?
Donate money if possible; shelters are always short of funds, and by donating money you can help them to fund the areas they most need help with, and help to continue to provide care. Check with individual shelters too, to find out what else they need that you can assist with or supply.Many, if not most rehoming shelters are not accepting new volunteers at present in order to maintain social distancing. However, if and when staffing levels fall and the need becomes acute, many will have no choice but to seek new volunteers, foster carers, dog walkers, and other forms of support; and they may also need help in other ways too, such as asking people to collect food donations and assist in other matters.
What any charity or shelter needs and can benefit from might be quite variable, and so it is far better to ask than to assume and perhaps inadvertently put your energies into something that won’t offer huge benefit despite your best intentions.
Rescue centres donation funds
Below are links to some of the larger rescue centres and animal welfare organizations in the UK. Do run you a rescue centre and want to be featured here? Please write us on support@pets4homes.co.uk.
About / Mission
Donation Page
The ADCH promotes best practice in animal welfare for dogs and cats. Our members are dedicated to dog rescue & cat rescue.
Established to fully care for and rehome unclaimed strays from our local area and dogs that find themselves in need. Our dogs have a home with us for as long as it takes to find the perfect family.
Battersea is here for every dog and cat, and has been since 1860. We believe that every dog and cat deserves the best which is why we never turn away an animal in need, no matter what their age, breed or temperament. Every year we care for around 7,000 dogs and cats across our three centres, before finding them loving new homes.
Cats Protection is the UK leading cat welfare charity. We help around 200,000 cats every year through our network of 37 centres and around 250 volunteer-run branches.
Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK. Each year Dogs Trust cares for 15,000 dogs across our nationwide network of 20 rehoming centres, meaning at any one time over 1,600 dogs are being cared for whilst they wait to find their forever homes.
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has been part of the fabric of Edinburgh since 1883, working in partnership with local authorities and police services by welcoming lost, stray and abandoned pets from all corners of Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Greenleaf Animal Rescue is an established animal welfare charity in the United Kingdom which specializes in the rescue and rehoming of unwanted or abandoned animals. We also provide sanctuary for animals with long term medical or behavioral problems.
Leicester Animal Aid is a rescue and rehoming centre for cats and dogs. Every year we care for around 400 animals that are lost, abandoned, neglected or given up because their owners can no longer care for them. Our goal is to find loving, responsible, forever homes for every animal in our care.
Mayhew is an animal welfare charity based in North-West London. We are working to improve the lives of dogs, cats, and the people in our communities, by providing a broad range of community-based veterinary, care, and education services in both the UK and overseas.
National Animal Welfare Trust is one of the UK’s top animal welfare charities operating five rehoming centres across the south of England.
The RSPCA is the UK's largest animal welfare charity. RSPCA's vision is to one day live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion.
Southern Shih Tzu Rescue is a UK registered charity 1049494, dealing with the rescue and rehoming of Shih Tzu dogs throughout England and Wales. Our mission is to provide care and protection for Shih Tzu's who are in need because of sickness, maltreatment and poor circumstances and the prevention of cruelty and suffering.
The Scottish SPCA has been championing animal welfare across Scotland since 1839. We’re continuously rescuing and rehabilitating animals and finding them loving forever homes as well as getting animals back on their feet to thrive in the wild. We receive no government funding and are separate from the RSPCA who operate in England and Wales only.
The USPCA staff and volunteers are passionate and committed in their support of animal welfare and the relief of animal suffering; and strive for excellence in the delivery of our services.
Wood Green, The Animals Charity brings pets and people closer together – providing vulnerable pets with urgent veterinary treatment and care, finding them loving new homes from centres in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and offering behavioural training and support to pet owners.
We are a sanctuary based in Plymouth, who helps 19 different species of pets, including cats and dogs and rehome on average 1000 every year.
Do you run a Rescue Charity and want to be featured above? Write us on support@pets4homes.co.uk
