There are many animal shelters throughout the United Kingdom, but very few of them are as well known as the RSPCA (Royal Society for Protection against Cruelty to Animals). They usually depend on volunteers and money donated by the public to help rescue and care for unwanted and neglected animals ranging from small pets such as rabbits, guinea-pigs, dogs and cats to farm animals like cattle, donkeys and horses. There are far too many to list, but other recognised rescue centres include:
*Royal Society for Protection against Cruelty to Animals www.rspca.org.uk an internationally recognised charity whose aims include not only re-homing animals but also in educating the public in animal care.
*National Animal Welfare Trust www.nawt.org.uk based in the South West of England, the NAWT help to care for unwanted and retired animals. They have many species including farm animals and exotics as well as dogs and cats.
*Cats Protection League www.cats.org.uk a cats only charity, the CPL has many homes throughout the UK that foster cats and kittens until a permanent home can be found.
*The Blue Cross www.bluecross.org.uk almost as well known as the RSPCA, the Blue Cross not only help to re-home animals but also have several veterinary hospitals spread throughout the UK.
*Battersea Dogs and Cats Home www.battersea.org.uk based in London, Battersea is well known for taking in unwanted and neglected dogs and cats.
*Scottish Society for Protections against Cruelty to Animals www.scottishspca.org the Scottish version of the RSPCA, following guidelines set by the Scottish government.
*Greyhound Rescue www.greyhoundrescue.co.uk rescuing and re-homing racing dogs of all ages, Greyhound Rescue have many greyhounds and whippets desperately seeking suitable homes.
*Horse and Pony Protection Association www.happa.org.uk HAPPA rescue neglected horses, ponies and donkeys, using an adoption programme to help fund their care.
All animal shelters have rules and regulations that they have to legally follow. These are set by the government and can be found on the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website (www.defra.gov.uk) and if you have any concerns it is DEFRA that you should contact.
When finding a shelter, most people will look for what is known as a no-kill policy', this means that no healthy animal is put to sleep. Sadly though this is not always the case with some shelters, especially with the increasing number of unwanted and abandoned pets. There are not enough donations or acceptable homes available to keep all animals indefinitely and there are several cases where healthy animals have been euthanized simply because they cannot find a suitable place to live.
Before re-homing an animal, a reputable shelter will ask you to make several visits to get to know the animal. They will also do home checks and make sure that the animal you have chosen to suited to your lifestyle and family. If the centre you are choosing from does not have these policies in place then it is probable that they are not as caring as they seem and it would be advisable to look elsewhere.
Learn more about this author, Charlotte Howard.
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