'Desperate' animal charity launches urgent appeal as funds 'almost entirely depleted'
An animal charity based in Wolverhampton has urged people to donate after it was left facing around £3,500 in vets bills amid coronavirus.
Wings and Paws Rescue made the plea due to its funds being "almost entirely depleted" which has left them in a "desperate situation".
It has seen volunteers – who each have frontline jobs – continue their hard work throughout lockdown to rescue as many animals as possible.
But this has led to an increase in the number of bills with unwanted, sick and injured animals needing treatment to help them properly recover.
Fears were sparked mid-way through last month due to the rescue facing potential closure, but it was saved through an outpouring of support.
Clare Vowles, from Wings and Paws Rescue, said: "We've had some really poorly kittens in and the bills have been thousands – nearly £3,500 of bills and we've really struggled.
"Because of Covid we haven't been able to do fundraising, the same as anyone really, and we're a small rescue – February this year marked a year of being open.
"Our followers are really good to us – really amazing – but they're in the same boat with furlough and other struggles. We're pretty desperate.
"That [facing closure] came last week – we thought we would have to close and then we received some really generous donations from people.
"We don't like to be in debt but sometimes that can't be helped and our vets do work closely with us and they're really very good to us.
"All the volunteers have frontline jobs and we've been working throughout lockdown. Some of the larger rescues haven't been going out and there's some cats and kittens which are extremely desperate."
Volunteers have worked throughout the pandemic – despite having frontline jobs – and have rescued animals as far as Stoke-on-Trent, including in harsh rain and piping hot weather.
But they have seen a spike in the number of cats and kittens being dumped – and later rescued by them – throughout the lockdown period, with concerns being raised over how to feed them due to little funds.
Ms Vowles added: "There's been a massive increase [in the number of cats and kittens abandoned] – it's been horrendous this year.
"We think it's because originally, people were saying cats can carry Covid and people just chucked their cats out because of it. They do carry a strain, but not the same as what we do.
"We've took in something like 50-odd cats and about 100 kittens within the lockdown period and we're only a small rescue really."
Donations can be made by visiting Wings and Paws Rescue on Facebook or through the PayPal link on the page.
