Dog rescue charities in the South West are urging the government to provide more support as they face increasing financial pressures. Rising costs, particularly from changes to the national living wage and national insurance contributions, have made it more difficult for many rescue centres to maintain their facilities. As a result, these charities are being forced to rely on foster carers to house the animals.
K9Focus, a North Devon charity, has been significantly impacted by these financial changes and is now closing its kenneling facility for rescue dogs. The charity’s trustee, Lynne Hall, expressed concerns about the sustainability of rescue efforts without additional funding. She called on the government to provide financial assistance to help maintain rescue operations, stressing that the current system offers no direct support for animal rescue work.
“Since the Covid pandemic, we’ve been receiving an overwhelming number of calls—sometimes seven or eight a day—from people looking to rehome their dogs,” said Hall. “It’s heart-breaking to think that some dogs could be put to sleep simply because we don’t have the resources to help them.”
K9Focus, which once housed up to 15 dogs, now finds itself struggling to keep up with demand. Hall emphasized that without increased support and more foster carers, the charity will continue to face insurmountable challenges in caring for and rehoming the dogs in its care.
In Cornwall, St Francis Dog Home in Newquay has managed to expand its facilities with a substantial legacy donation, which has allowed them to build 10 new kennels and two isolation rooms. This development will help accommodate strays from local dog wardens, who are also grappling with a shortage of available spaces at rescue centres.
However, St Francis Dog Home manager Beverly Dobson pointed out the lack of government funding for dog rescue charities. She explained that while some companies provide grants, these are rare and insufficient to cover the growing demand for rescue services.
“There is no such thing as government funding for our work,” Dobson stated. “We rely on donations and the generosity of individuals to keep going.”
In response to these concerns, a Treasury spokesperson reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting charities through one of the world’s most generous tax regimes. They highlighted that £6 billion in relief was provided to the charity sector last year, including exemptions from business rates in England. The spokesperson also noted the doubling of the Employment Allowance, designed to assist the smallest charities, and the creation of a new Civil Society Covenant aimed at building trust and collaboration with the charitable sector.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) also expressed its support for animal rescue groups. A spokesperson for DEFRA stated that the department regularly meets with groups representing rescue centres to address the issues they face and acknowledged the valuable services they provide to communities, including pet food banks and financial assistance with veterinary care.
Despite the government’s assurances, many rescue organisations feel that more direct, targeted financial support is needed to ensure that their vital work can continue.
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