Annex A
PRESS RELEASE
CALL FOR
ANIMAL CRISIS
PLAN
An appeal to help Gloucestershire animal shelters
cope with the recent flooding and disruption of water supplies
has led to calls for better planning in the future.
Teckels Animal Shelter based in Whitminster,
became full as it took in cats and dogs as emergency boarders
during the recent flooding—on what is already its busiest
period of the year. Joan Barrett the manager of Teckels Animal
Shelter, says: "We have had kittens left by our gates anonymously,
and only yesterday took in a three legged dog. With all the extra
animals, we are struggling to cope with the overheads to keep
the shelter running, veterinary fees often spiral to nearly £4,000
a month alone, the centre has to find £14,000 to remain open".
Learning of the shelter's plight, Rebecca Nicholls,
who runs Eventageous PR in Gloucester, stepped in by organising
an appeal through the media. She says: "Teckels needed help
but was so engulfed in caring for animals around-the-clock that
they didn't have the time or resources to launch an appeal and
get their message out to the media, so we stepped in.
Within hours we had a huge response. People
gave water, (even when they didn't have it themselves) animal
food and bedding—which will be essential over the coming
months."
Matt Hammond who ran the Teckels emergency response
said: "we have had an overwhelming reaction to the appeal,
and would like to take this opportunity to the community at large
for all of the donations that we have received, it is greatly
appreciated. Although the floods may be subsiding, and many households
are getting back to normality, here at Teckels we fear that the
crisis has only just started. We are expecting to be full for
many months to come as animal owners recover from the floods and
restore their houses so that they are habitable again.
During the crisis last week, it seemed that
there was no one taking responsibility of animal welfare in the
county. We put in place a mutual aid agreement, to re-distribute
supplies to other sanctuaries in need. Some of the donations were
distributed to Skates Hill Kennel in Stroud, AAS Vets, Quedgeley
and BJ Kennels in Staverton (whose animals had to be evacuated).
In future we would like to work with the local
authorities to create a forum to deal with animal crisis management
and have an action plan in place—with a list of trained
volunteers and animal professionals available in such emergencies.
Not only would this reduce stress for animals and their owners,
it could free-up the emergency services."
Specific Thanks goes to:
All the public donations of animal food and
bedding.
To all the volunteers, we couldn't survive without
your loyalty.
British Red Cross
Alan Coward Transport for supplying a shipping
container to keep all the supplies dry, and storage
To Equinox Interiors for assisting transporting
supplies
Purina Animal Food
Cats Protection—Taunton & Wellington
Branch
Tesco
Eventageous PR Ltd
NOTES TO
EDITORS:
About Teckels:
Teckels Animal Sanctuaries was formed in November
2003 as a merger between two long established animal rescue charities.
Swindon Animal Sanctuary Appeal had been running
for over 17 years with the aim of building a sanctuary in the
Swindon area. Around £120,000 was raised, but due to rising
land prices it was getting no closer to its goal and was on the
verge of being wound up.
Teckels Animal Welfare Centre had rescued over
8000 cats, dogs and small animals over its 20 year history. However
the land on which they were based was put up for sale. Having
insufficient funds to purchase it, this would have spelled the
end of animal rescue there.
Therefore the timing and circumstances were
just right for the two charities to help each other to achieve
both their goals! The new Teckels Animal Sanctuaries charity presently
runs a sanctuary and boarding kennels (whose profits go straight
back into the charity) in Whitminster, Gloucestershire. In the
Swindon area they rescue dogs via foster homes.
The rescue and boarding animals are all cared
for by our dedicated and hard-working staff and volunteers who
regularly clean out, feed, exercise and socialise with those in
their care. The centre costs a lot to run (vet bills alone average
£4,000 per month), which is why they need your help by sponsorship,
donation, membership, or by using our dog and cat boarding facilities.
They raise funds themselves onsite by offering
beginners dog agility training on Monday nights, pet grooming
services, boarding from one day to long term and are able to microchip
animals for just £10 each.
Unlike many shelters, Teckels do not discriminate
against old or sick animals, just because they make take longer
to re-home. They have a strict no put-down policy, and regularly
(providing they have the space) uplift animals from other rescue
centres that are destined to be put to sleep.
Teckels are actively involved in the community
from carrying out school and college animal educational visits,
taking on work experience pupils through to visiting people's
homes.
How Can You Help?
If only 1,000 people donated £10 a month,
it would secure their future for another year, and the best thing
is, you can see where the money is spent. Teckels will host an
open day in September to thank all the people that have made donation
to come and look around for themselves.
There are so many ways you can help, including
recycling your old mobile phones and ink cartridges through to
sponsoring a kennel, fostering an animal, having a collection
box at your workplace or becoming a volunteer.
Rebecca Nicholls
August 2007
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