Urgent appeal to the public for help to save the lives of 50 dogs

An animal rescue centre is appealing for help to save its dogs and secure its future after receiving notice to leave its kennels within a month.

Celandine Wood Animal Rescue in Heswall, Wirral, is facing closure unless it raises enough money to set up new premises.

The organisation, which is run entirely by volunteers, has 50 dogs in its care and also takes in cats and wildlife from Merseyside and beyond. The centre is urging anyone able to foster or adopt a dog to get in touch.

READ MORE: Enter our £1,000 Aldi voucher giveaway and go wild in the aisles

READ MORE: £10* unlimited day travel on Northern trains only with your ECHO

The landowner where the rescue centre is based has offered the centre another area of land to rent, but there is no fencing or buildings on it. Rescue volunteers are working to raise funds to erect temporary kennels in order to keep the dogs safe and sheltered.

Founder and vet Sharon Williams said: “We have kindly been allowed to use the land for free, which we are very grateful for because it has meant we have been able to save many animals’ lives. But now it is being sold and we need to relocate."

Sharon founded Celandine Wood Animal Rescue last year. For years, she had been taking home animals which had been brought for unnecessary euthanisation. Friends began to help, and from this, a rescue was born.

Sharon and her 30-strong team of volunteers have saved around 1,000 animals. She is calling on the community to help the rescue centre during this crisis.

She said: “My team of volunteers work incredibly hard day in, day out to rescue animals and bring funds in. One animal can cost us thousands in veterinary care.

“But now we are facing a real threat to our dogs and our future and we can’t save them by ourselves. People who can adopt or foster – please come forward because you will literally be saving a dog’s life.

“I know times are tough for many, but I’d ask everyone reading this now to please donate whatever you can. And even if you can’t afford to donate, please share our appeal and help us spread the word.”

Sharon is also keen to hear from generous business owners who could help with fencing and outbuildings for the dogs.

According to animal rights organisation PETA, there are around 20,000 dogs put to sleep each year in the UK.

According to Sharon, the UK animal rescue system is in crisis, and Merseyside is especially struggling. She said: “Thousands of animals are falling through the cracks and being euthanised due to a lack of kennel capacity or available homes. We’re forced to turn away about 100 animals that we’ve been asked to help each and every week.

“We had a surge of new dog owners during the pandemic and shelters are still dealing with the fall out with unprecedented levels of pets being abandoned. On top of that, the cost-of-living has further exacerbated the problem.

“People are giving up their animals because they can’t afford them,” said Ms Williams. “The cost-of-living crisis also means fewer people are opening up their homes to shelter animals. And it’s harder to raise funds in a downturn to help this deluge of animals. It’s heartbreaking.”

In the face of a shocking rise in animal abandonment, Sharon and her team plan to build a permanent purpose-built facility to quadruple the rescue spaces the centre currently offers. This will cost around £1 million.

To apply to adopt or foster a dog or cat visit here. To donate via GoFundMe, click here.

Receive top stories on everything going on in Merseyside including events, shopping and food and drink through our newsletter by signing up here