One Voice for Animals Appeal
The COVID-19 Crisis has had a devastating effect on our UK wildlife & domestic animal rescue centres, hospitals and sanctuaries.
Rescue Centres find themselves dealing with spring wildlife casualties and increasing pet abandonment. Animal charities receive no government funding, and with increased food costs, fewer volunteers and main fundraising routes gone, many charities are at risk of permanent closure, putting the lives of thousands of animals at risk.
Amanda Mizpah Norman runs a hedgehog rescue in Bedford. Amanda said, ‘It’s tough enough trying to raise funds for a wildlife rescue normally, but since the COVID-19 crisis struck, it has become 100 times more difficult. We have lost our volunteers and food donations due to lock down; we have no one to bail us out and donations to pay vets bills and overheads, donations have dried up. I truly fear for animals as one by one wildlife shelters close. We need help now.’
Sarah Johnson, Centre Manager, Teckels Animal Rescue said, ‘Most small rescue centres survive hand to mouth, so something as massive as Coronavirus, which is having such a huge impact, will I’m sure, result in some rescue centres simply not surviving’.
Talking about the One Voice for Animals UK Appeal, animal supporter Lisa Smith said: ‘With everything going on, it’s easy to forget about animal charities that might be seriously struggling without their usual fundraising activities. I see this appeal as a way for the charities to be remembered and for the public to be able to support those close to them.’
After reading dozens of heart-breaking appeals from individual charities, Val Green decided to bring the plight of our UK animal charity & volunteer sector to the public’s attention. Recognising these causes needed more exposure, Val created a national database featuring over 250 rescues, hospitals and sanctuaries in greatest need. These range from small registered charities to volunteers who rescue and rehabilitate animals from their own homes. Val was moved by the plight of so many animal groups all making similar pleas and so she set up this appeal to give them One Voice and to help the public hear that voice.
People who would like to help animals in need and the volunteers who care for them can visit the database, select the county or region they live in, choose sites to visit and decide for themselves which causes they would like to support.
The One Voice for Animals appeal database is available at www.helpanimals.co.uk.
