Paws for thought this Christmas

The Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF) is dedicated to the rescue, care and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. Established in 1980, the charity’s veterinary wildlife hospital in Leatherhead, Surrey deals with more than 20,000 wildlife emergencies every year.

The charity works 24/7, 365 days a year, and in their busiest months, they can be admitting more than 60 new patients each day and taking a phone call every four minutes.

Their dedicated aim is to return every patient to the wild once they have recovered.

Did you know...

• During the winter months, we can house more than 200 hedgehogs as they bed down, and they will eat their way through over 15,000 cans of dog food.
• It costs almost £300 to help each badger cub reach adulthood, and we take in dozens each year!
• Just £45 can help a fox with severe mange recover.

Website

https://www.wildlifeaid.org.uk/

Situated in the Staffordshire Moorlands, this small charity is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of dogs in need. Run entirely by volunteer trustees, fosterers and fundraisers, Moorlands Dog Rescue (MDR) provides secure placements for dogs to recuperate and de-stress. Every dog has a dedicated foster support worker who helps to prepare volunteers for the arrival of their new foster dog, provide training advice, work with them on any behavioural plans needed, and answer any questions along the way.

With a small but dedicated group of amazing team skilled in dog behaviour and training, the charity is also committed to using professional and foster-parent insights to find the best match for each dog’s forever home, reducing the potential of failed rehoming.

MDR dogs come from pounds, personal ads, homes that can no longer meet their needs, local vets who have treated strays, and anywhere there is a vulnerable dog that needs our help. They pride themselves on helping dogs with special health or behavioural needs, or who have been freed from abusive situations and need skilled and dedicated support to turn their lives around.

Did you know...

• MDR has helped over 400 very special dogs, from puppies to seniors, from wolfhounds to chihuahuas.
• MDR looks after dogs of every shape, size and ability, including bonded pairs, disabled or badly injured dogs, dogs with life-limiting conditions, and those with severe behavioural issues needing intensive and patient rehab.
• All funding for MDR is raised through volunteer support and every penny goes towards caring for dogs.

Website

https://www.moorlandsdogrescue.com/

A small animal charity based in South Wales, Friends of Animals Wales (FOAW) rescues and rehomes vulnerable pets across the UK. Run entirely by volunteers, FOAW carries out home-visiting, transportation, fostering, adoption, fundraising and many other tasks all designed to give rescued pets a new chance at a happy and healthy life.

Relying solely on donations to continue their important work, 2020 has been exceptionally difficult year for the charity. Due to the seriousness of the injuries and medical support the rescued animals have needed, which often includes specialist veterinary treatment, their vet bills reached a staggering £150,000.

Jack, beryl, Meri and Yogi are a small selection of the dogs that were rescued this year. Yogi required both his eyes removing due to neglect, Beryl and Meri had been used for breeding and required extensive work to socialise them ready for a home, and Jack was rescued in Egypt and brought over to us where they are ensuring he is able to walk again.

Did you know...

• In 2020, the charity rescued over 200 vulnerable dogs.
• Friends of Animals Wales has rehomed 82 cats and a number of rabbits.

Website

https://friendsofanimalswales.org.uk/

Covering England, Wales and Scotland, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) was formed in 1988 and is the only charity totally dedicated to the rescue of marine life such as whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals. The BDMLR has volunteers and a wide range of specialist equipment strategically placed throughout the UK to deal with marine mammal strandings, injured or abandoned seals and fishing gear entanglement.

For 10 years BDMLR has operated a small temporary holding facility in Cornwall for sick and injured seal pups, designed to support the regions larger rehabilitation centres which are quickly overwhelmed by the numbers of pups needing help each pupping season. The current unit was only meant to be a temporary measure and a replacement facility is urgently needed to allow BDMLR's vital work in Cornwall to continue, without it vulnerable seal pups will have nowhere to go, with potentially devastating consequences.

There are now plans to build a new, purpose-built facility which will allow BDMLR to care for up to 10 seal pups at a time, twice as many pups than the existing facility can house. Not only that, but the facility will also provide a space to train volunteers to ensure that we continue providing care to a very high standard.

Did you know...

• Every year the BDMLR trains over 1000 volunteer Marine Mammal Medics.
• Last year, the BDMLR responded to 1788 callouts.

Website

https://bdmlr.org.uk/

Based in Windlesham, Surrey, Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue (HAWP) are a small charity who rescue, rehabilitate and release local native wildlife, from tiny dormice to the majestic deer and everything in between.

HAWP has over 30 years of direct experience in helping sick, injured and orphaned wild animals, supporting the general public, local vets and the RSPCA 24/7.

Educating the community is also important to HAWP, tackling the key issues that affect wildlife today and the roles that we all can play to alleviate them.

HAWP has seen an increase in the number of animals they have helped and treated in 2020. This may be due to people enjoying nature and local wildlife during the lockdown.

HAWP has seen an increase in the number of animals they have helped and treated in 2020. This may be due to people enjoying nature and local wildlife during the lockdown.

Did you know...

• In 2019, HAWP responded to over 3500 incidents, the equivalent to over nine incidents a day!

Website

https://hawr.co.uk/

Supporting animal across the UK, the Blue Cross charity has been helping sick, injured, abandoned and homeless pets for more than 120 years.

Pets change lives. We change theirs. The coronavirus pandemic is having a profound impact on all our lives, for the most vulnerable pet owners the impact has been devastating. In these uncertain times elderly, homeless, lonely and poverty-stricken pet owners in the community need Blue Cross more than ever. The friendship and comfort pets provide as well as the routine and purpose they give, particularly to those living in isolation, poverty or with mental health issues, is now of even greater importance. It makes the work we do more relevant than ever.

In a perfect world our services would be redundant. There would be no need to find pets new homes, or to provide free or low-cost treatment. But until that world exists, we are here to help provide support for those that need it most.

Did you know...

• The Blue Cross was founded in 1897 and since then they have never once closed their doors to pets and owners in need.
• Blue Cross support thousands of pets in need every month, providing veterinary care, expert behaviour help and find them loving happy homes.
• The charity also offers advice and education for current or future pet owners and pet bereavement support.

Website

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/

Based in Coulsdon, South London, The New Moon Rescue started in June 2018 with the purpose of rescuing stray, feral and colony cats and kittens. All are microchip checked and, where possible, returned to their owners. If they cannot be returned to their owners, they are rehomed after a vet check and neutering.

During these unprecedented times, The New Moon Rescue has seen their intake of rescues double, as other welfare centres have had to close their doors and the number of abandoned, stray and feral cats have increased. Many of the strays and feral cats will be in a poor state of health, needing dental treatment, neutering and possibly operations.

Did you know...

• Since becoming a registered charity, The New Moon Rescue has rescued over 1000 cats.
• From January to September 2020, 381 cats have received help.
• The cost of vet care from October 2019 – September 2020 was over £28,000.

Website

https://newmoonrescue.com/

Mossburn Community Farm is situated near Lockerbie in the Scottish Borders and cares for a wide range of misused, abused, unwanted and neglected animals.

Where possible, they also offer spaces to animals whose owners can no longer look after them due to changing circumstances. This has become more of a concern through 2020 as financial situations for many people changed suddenly and drastically.

They currently have 100 animals on the farm which include horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits and guinea pigs, poultry and a llama. The animals are as free range as possible and they all mix in together, providing a great environment where visitors can get up close to see them. As a result, Mossburn is able to provide support for young people and adults with additional needs (physical, emotional, behavioural and mental) through animal assisted therapy.

Did you know...

Website

https://www.mossburn.org/

Working out of Bradford in North Yorkshire, Roleystone’s team of dedicated volunteers spend their free time caring for mistreated and unwanted horses and ponies.

As everyone knows, it is very expensive caring for horses, with feed, hay, haulage, Farrier, vets bills and lots of other unexpected problems. Some of their rescued horses suffer from a disease called ‘Equine Cushing’s Disease’ which if left untreated can be fatal and requires expensive medication to treat.

To raise vital funds for this important work, Roleystone Horse Sanctuary would normally host horse shows and events throughout the year. Due to this year’s COVID restrictions, and the cancellation of these events, they’re now faced with a difficult winter ahead.

Did you know...

• RHS currently has 25 horses in their care, with 12 out on loan looking for forever homes.
• During 2020, RHS was called out to rescue two ponies, both of which were suffering from severe neglect.
• RHS find the worst months for reports of neglect are January and February when people struggle to look after their animals and there’s no grass or shelter for the animals.

Website

https://roleystonehorsesanctuary.co.uk/

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) conserves amphibians and reptiles and the habitats on which they depend, to protect them for future generations.

Founded in 2009, they run projects aimed at supporting particular species in need, such as natterjack toads, pool frogs and sand lizards. Current ARC patrons include the TV presenters Chris Packham, Iolo Williams and Lucy Cooke.

As a medium sized charity with 35 staff, they own 24 sites and manage 80 sites across the UK. Each year they also work with around 500 volunteers, encouraging people to become more active through practical conservation work at heathlands, ponds and other amphibian and reptile habitats.

Did you know...

• Around 40% of all amphibian and 20% of all reptile species in the world are endangered.
• 38 species of amphibians and around 30 species of reptiles, have already become extinct globally in the last 100 years.

Website

https://www.arc-trust.org/

The Owl Sanctuary is a Cambrian based rescue and rehabilitation centre, dedicated to caring for these majestic birds and educating the public about the conservation of both wild and captive owls.

2020 has been a record year for rescues and rehabilitations for the Sanctuary, both locally and across the country, providing vital support in person and delivering advice over the phone on caring for injured or unwell owls.

This charity also offers educational facilities to people visiting the Lake District. They have their own owls who are unable to return to the wild and survive on their own, who help support and educate the community by visiting care homes, schools and local groups through-out the North West.

Did you know...

• During lockdown, some of the handling owls have become frustrated at not seeing the public.
• Before its release, a Peregrine Falcone currently recovering from a broken wing, will have flying and catching training.
• Films like Harry Potter made some fans think that owls were ‘cool’ pets, without understanding the hard work and commitment required.

Website

https://www.theowlsanctuary.org/

The Raptor Foundation, based in Cambridgeshire, has been a rescue and rehabilitation centre for injured birds of prey (both wild and captive) for 30 years, providing a permanent, caring environment for raptors unable to return to the wild.

Committed to contributing to the conservation of birds of prey and biodiversity both at home and abroad, and sharing knowledge and information on the medical treatment and rehabilitation of raptors, their public centre allows people of all ages and backgrounds the chance to learn more about these incredible birds. With educational flying displays held throughout the year and an extensive education programme for schools, youth groups, Scouts, Beavers, Guides, care homes, and bespoke events, the charity hopes to protect and preserve birds of prey across the world for generations to come.

Did you know...

• On average, the Raptor Foundation cares for around 150 wild birds of prey every year through their 24/7 hospital, tackling health issues ranging from starvation, road traffic accidents, gunshot injuries, premature fledging and much more.
• In 2020, the Foundation treated over 170 birds.
• The charity also provides permanent homes to captive birds of prey that have been mistreated, abandoned or in need of a new home.

Website

https://raptorfoundation.org.uk/