A DOG rescue centre has issued a warning to government that animal charities face closure due to lack of support.
Rugby-based Pawprints Dog Rescue takes dogs from death row in council pounds and relies on fund-raising to keep its operations running.
But charity founder Anita Twigger says its workload has nearly doubled since the start of the pandemic while income has dropped dramatically.
She told the Observer: “We have simply been forgotten. Forgotten by government in their deliverance of £750m grants to the frontline charity sector which completely bypasses the animal sector, and forgotten by the insurers we pay thousands to each year to protect us against the unknown.”
And Anita has warned while work is increasing, animal charities across the country are being pushed to the brink of closure.
Pawprints income has dropped by more than £10,000 a month due to loss of fund-raising activities and the closure of its charity shop.
Anita added: “We have continued to deliver emergency services – rescuing dogs abandoned at pounds in our local area before they are put to sleep, dogs whose owners have so sadly passed away, dogs who need urgent medical care that owners can no longer afford due to loss of income and many others.
“We have more than doubled our usual intake since lockdown and we are trying to find our way into a future with new challenges such as online fundraising, transporting dogs in need, creating new ways to plan forward adoptions and all ran completely with a reduced team of just four volunteers, and one employee – our behaviourist whose work was vital for us to safely remain open to intake.
“My question is, who is going to rescue the rescuers? We have no idea, but we all really hope that help comes soon before it is too late.”
Visit www.pawprintsdogrescue.org to donate or find out more.
