Working to Re-Home Companion Animals in Sussex
The
Sussex Pet Rescue Charitable Trust
Registered Charity No.1048731
Our History
How Sussex Pet Rescue Began
In 1995 we
formally became ‘The Sussex Pet Rescue Charitable Trust’ and then, after
much form filling question answering, and much attention to detail,
we finally achieved our registration as an approved National Charity,
thus bringing us into line with the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust in terms of
our ability to raise funds for our work. Little did I think, fifty years
ago when I joined a very small band of local animal welfare workers, that
our group would progress to become a registered charity.
At first, the group did
not even have a name, and, since we
rescued and re-homed any animal needing our help, it was difficult for us
to find an appropriate title.
It was Bunny Heaseman who first hit upon the name ‘Pet Rescue’, a
name which has since become so well known within the Sussex area and
beyond for the care of animals in distress. I met Kate Tapper (one of
my Co-Directors) over forty years ago when we were both walking our dogs in
the Copse at the top of Woodland Drive, Hove. One day she commented on the
number of different dogs I appeared to own. ‘Oh yes’, I replied, ‘I am a member of a
group called Pet Rescue. I don’t
suppose you ever have any free time for us, do you?’ Now Kate often wonders how
different life would have been for her and her family if her answer to my
question had not been so enthusiastic, or, indeed, if she had chosen to walk her
dogs on the Downs rather than the Copse!
It would be impossible to thank all our volunteers individually for all their hard work over many years, but without our wonderful 'foster homes', the work of Sussex Pet Rescue would have been impossible. We believe that dogs often suffer by being placed in kennels, and therefore our policy is to place dogs waiting for adoption in foster homes. This gives us a much better chance to assess them in normal surroundings where they may come into contact with children and/or other animals. We also have an opportunity to investigate any known health problems before they are re-homed.
Our profound thanks go to Keren O’Mahony and her band of tireless helpers who continually raise funds for Sussex Pet Rescue and Cat Welfare. Without their efforts, Sussex Pet Rescue could not function as our veterinary costs alone are in excess of £23,000 per annum – a vast sum to raise before we feed all the animals in our care. All our work would be to no avail without the advice, support and co-operation of our Vets who so generously discount their fees in order to help our work. They, like us, are anxious to prevent further unwanted pets being brought into the world and support our subsidised neutering scheme whereby owners on low income can have their pet spayed/castrated at a considerably reduced price.
It is said that if you give a donation to a cause, you give a part of
your wealth but that if you give time, you give part of your life.
Marcia Harris