Hope Rescue received funding from the charity to continue their rescue work during the pandemic.
Five puppies born at Hope Rescue in Llanharan, South Wales, have been named after local NHS workers as a thank you for their hard-work on the front line during the Covid-19 outbreak. The charity, one of the 20 recipients of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust’s (KCCT) recently-launched emergency funding, asked the local public to nominate their NHS heroes, and has now found forever homes for all the puppies.
The puppy’s mum, Peaches, was in the last days of her pregnancy when she was surrendered to Hope Rescue on the second day of lockdown. She previously had several different owners and had given birth to a number of litters before, and the most recent owner didn’t think they could take care of Peaches and her puppies. Hope Rescue moved Peaches into the foster home of their ‘doggy midwife’, where she gave birth a couple days later.
Vanessa Waddon, transformation manager from Hope Rescue said: “We wanted to show our appreciation for the hard work of NHS workers but as we’re struggling with effects of Covid-19 ourselves, we couldn’t organise a regular fundraiser. We asked people to nominate their local NHS heroes instead and decided to name Peaches’ puppies after those amazing people.”
Although Peaches struggled with breathing problems and faced difficulties in feeding her puppies comfortably shortly after the birth, she is now doing well and all of her puppies have found their forever home.
Hope Rescue’s work and income has been affected by the pandemic in several ways, including limiting fundraising events, as well as restrictions on their charity shop in Pontypridd, which has now been closed for more than four months after initially closing due to flooding from Storm Dennis in February.
The funds received from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust emergency fund will be used on veterinary fees for dogs taken into care during lockdown, which so far included three pregnant dogs and numerous other abandoned or surrendered dogs.
Vanessa commented: “We are very grateful for the support of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust. It has been difficult for small animal organisations like us to find emergency funding as the focus of many Covid-19 emergency funds is understandably elsewhere, but this will enable us to continue saving dogs despite the pandemic.”
The KCCT Emergency Relief Initiative, which was established in April, was set up to support canine organisations which may be suffering and unable to continue their vital work, which makes a huge difference to dogs, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. All of the applications were considered carefully and funding was allocated to 20 organisations in the most urgent situation.
Other recipients of funds from the KCCT include breed rescue organisations such as the Northern Ireland Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club and Greyhound Rescue, as well as other general smaller dog rescue organisations, such as Friends of Animals Wales - the charity from which Boris Johnson rehomed Dilyn, the Jack Russell Terrier.
Revd. Bill King, Chairman of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust said: “We received a significant number of applications for our emergency funding and had to make some very hard decisions on where funds need to be placed as a matter of urgency.
“Keeping these organisations, which take care of health, welfare and future of dogs from all breeds and backgrounds, functional is a priority for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust. We know that most of smaller organisations depend on funding to keep up their excellent work that save dogs lives and want to ensure they can continue despite the pandemic.
“We are also grateful for Our Dogs newspaper’s help with our appeal which is helping to grow awareness about our fund amongst their readers who have so far donated over £40,000.”
To donate online to the KCCT relief fund and help dogs, volunteers and organisations across the country during this difficult time, visit the Virgin Money Giving website. Alternatively, you can make a donation by text. Simply text ‘KCCT [amount]’ to 70450 to donate the desired amount. For example, if you wish to donate £30, simply text ‘KCCT 30’ to 70450. You will be charged your donation plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about the work of the KCCT and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to make a donation but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text ‘KCCTNOINFO [amount]’ to 70450.