RSPCA Kingston-Upon-Hull. Yet another animal charity in dire straits

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or the RSPCA, has been the foremost animal charity in the UK for around 200 years. In recent years many other animal charities have been created, some locally to the surroundings.

However, to my mind the RSPCA is still the leading animal charity in the UK but it struggle to survive. When the RSPCA was originally founded animal welfare was often not recognized. The children and people were often left to suffer, and so animals were thought not to need any help.

What the RSPCA showed, within a short space of time though, was that such an animal charity was long overdue. Prosecution for animal cruelty began and so did the sterling work of the RSPCA.

Almost 200 years later, you would think that we had would have learned a thing or two and animal cruelty would be a resolved issue. This is far from the case though.

Many people are aware of the acts of cruelty, to animals, meted out around the world, in countries such as China, The Faroe Islands and Poland, but surely this does not happen in England? After all, the English are a nation of animal lovers, aren't they?

Well I hate to admit this, but the UK has seen an upsurge in the abandonment and maltreatment of animals in recent years.

Sometimes it is pets, but other times it is farm animals, and the workers that should be caring for them. Abandonment is often blamed on the current economic climate but plenty of pet owners use this excuse to part with their pet and then promptly take another into their home.

It is a good job they do not treat their children in such a way, but then again, some do.

Bearing all of this in mind, I was sorry to read in the local press that my local RSPCA is facing closure unless donations increase. This branch has been active for 106 years.

With the credit crunch charitable donations have fallen but costs have risen. This is also true of the amount of animals needing this shelter.Unfortunately there are more than ever.

Our RSPCA dog a few years ago

One of our previous pooches came to us via the RSPCA, Clough Road, Kingston-Upon-Hull, East Yorkshire. He had been neglected and in and out of the RSPCA over a few months. They rarely euthanize healthy dogs, so they stuck with it and eventually hubby and I adopted this dog.

He was a cross Alsatian or German Shepherd, with the sweetest nature. His two aims in life were to please his owners and to enjoy life. He was an adult dog when he came to us but he had 6 good years before bad health took its toll. Boy did we have some fun though before he grew ill.

Without the RSPCA this dog would have to be put to sleep. The smaller local charities are just so full it is becoming "No room at the Inn" for such animals.

Charities and Christmas

At Christmas time many of us try to remember our favourite charities and dig deep into our pockets. Animals are high on some people's give list and low on others.

If you are able please consider helping your local animal charity or perhaps the RSPCA in Hull. They are unable to accept switch or debit donations over the phone but would be grateful of any help you could provide. It is possible to post them a cheque, which I am sure they will be grateful for, no matter how small or large. You can make a donation online but I am not sure if this will go the Clough Road branch. It is also possible to make a regular donation via your salary. This can be a small or large amount of cash.

Do not forget that the RSPCA is charity based and recives no help from the Government.

In the past the Clough Road branch have had to issue such a plea and people rallied and supported this charity, keeping it alive and kicking. Perhaps this time it will really close and that would be so sad, and disaster for unwanted pets and animals, especially at Christmas, when animals are often abandoned. This branch has been active for 106 years and has helped so many animals over the years

As you can see many of the dogs that end up in the RSPCA, Hull, are those that tend to look a little fierce. This is because all too many local people feel that they want one of these types of dogs but in reality these people are unable to care for such a pet.

This RSPCA needs money but of course adopting an animal from this shelter will help their finances. Think very carefully though before you take a pet into your home. It can be unsettling for animals to be put in and out of rescue shelters.

Christmas is not usually a good time to introduce a new pet into your home. It would be better to wait until the festivities have passed and see how you feel then. Sadly there will be many animals up for adoption after Christmas. This is a sad fact of life.

Rescue shelters will be busier than ever and in need of what help you can give, be it money or time.

If you are making a Last Will and Testament consider bequeathing what you can to such charities. With house prices tumbling many charities legacies have fallen in value and this adds to their financial problems.