When I received this email from Hope Rescue I knew their situation must be very serious. They would not ask for help that was not absolutely needed. The Hope team appreciate that Schnauzerfest is a small charity. But, like us, they know, that our brilliant supporters want Schnauzerfest to help good rescues survive the dreadful animal welfare crisis which is battering the UK.
Animal charities are being badly hit by a number of factors and dogs are suffering and dying in numbers that are too awful to imagine. In their public announcement Hope explained more:
In common with all charities, our costs have risen dramatically, but at a pace that our income has not kept up. The costs for our vet bills, mortgage, utilities, insurance and NI contributions have all spiraled. Every month, our income falls further behind our outgoings, despite doing everything we can to cut costs and raise funds. But it’s not enough.
In our budgets, we made sacrifices to protect the dogs that need us the most but we’re running out of options and are now at the stage we have to consider cutting service delivery.
Schnauzerfest is a charity which pays vet bills for rescues. And we know first-hand how difficult it is to face the rising costs of veterinary care. I started Schnauzerfest for exactly this reason. To help rescues pay vet bills. To help them be there for the dogs who have no other hope. So when I got that email, I knew Schnauzerfest had to act quickly and called an urgent meeting with the charity’s Trustees.
We agreed that an immediate Schnauzerfest Grant would go out to Hope.
Vanessa Waddon, Hope’s founder has this message for every Schnauzerfest supporter,
The crisis is not going away. Hope are facing some drastic decisions which will impact the dogs who have nobody else. The rescue needs help and needs it now like never before. The Schnauzerfest Trustees have therefore decided that further financial support for Hope Rescue will be made available during September. As is always the case, the size of any grant we can provide is entirely dependent on the generosity of our donors.
This week we launch our special Helping Hope Appeal. We’ve secured an incredibly generous £1000 donation to kick it off. We have also had some wonderful raffle prizes donated which will directly help the appeal when we open the Helping Hope Raffle on Wednesday 27th August.
I have every confidence that our incredibly kind supporters will ensure that the grant we send in September will be a substantial one. And that it will help Hope to buy some time while more solutions are found. It will be a grant which definitely will save dogs’ lives. Because if this seriously dedicated rescue in south Wales has to cut services, dogs will die.
I know Schnauzerfest supporters have big, generous hearts, that is never in any doubt and I am extremely grateful to lead a charity with such wonderful supporters. Whatever support you can give now, please know that you are deeply and always appreciated. Thank you.
Janetta, Founder of Schnauzerfest
