A County Durham pet meals financial institution has turn into a ‘lifeline’ for some house owners throughout the area, as an rising variety of persons are being supported by the challenge.
Over 50 pets have obtained parcels of meals from the Community Hub, primarily based in Chester-le-Street, to date this 12 months and numbers are rising due to the rising cost of residing.
Run by the RSPCA’s Sunderland, Hartlepool & South Tyneside Branch, the power at Front Street opened in July 2023 after the unbiased charity needed to shut their two present retail retailers due to the Covid-19 pandemic; one among their primary sources of earnings.
The Pet Food Bank in Chester-le-Street (Image: RSPCA)
As nicely as a pet meals financial institution, the Community Hub supplies free recommendation and data classes for pet house owners, pet well being clinics and vouchers for microchipping and neutering.
There’s additionally a brand new charity store and workplace area for the department to run their Ebay retailer, with all money raised going to help their native animal welfare work and the remedy and rehabilitation of animals rescued by RSPCA frontline officers.
Community Hub Project Coordinator Allison West stated: “Our pet food bank helped over 75 animals in 2023 but cost of living pressures mean the service is now more in demand than ever.
One of the dogs who has been helped by the pet food donation (Image: RSPCA)
“Our numbers have increased by around 50 per cent since the New Year and are continuing to go up. While it’s mainly dog owners we’re supporting, we’ve also provided food, litter and bedding for cats, rabbits and even pet rats.
“We want to do all we can to help as we know pets can be a huge source of comfort to their owners and they shouldn’t feel forced to give them up – after all, they are much-loved members of the family.
A volunteer at the RSPCA facility (Image: RSPCA)
“We hope our hub is a welcoming community space where people can come in with their pets for a chat, a cup of coffee or a browse around our shop. It’s all about helping to keep people and their pets together in challenging times, whether that be through providing a food parcel, a little bit of advice or a listening ear.”
Nationwide, the RSPCA has supplied 1.6 million pet meals by way of its 130 pet meals financial institution schemes which had been launched in 2020 as a part of a serious drive to assist preserve these going through monetary hardship along with their pets.
In County Durham, the hub’s pet meals financial institution helps individuals from Sunderland, Hartlepool and South Tyneside, with beneficiant donations supplied by the local people and neighbouring businesses.
The outdoors of the RSPCA group hub (Image: RSPCA)
A brand new volunteer driver may even be beginning quickly, in line with the RSPCA, enabling provides to be transported to those that want them.
Alan, who brings his canine to the pet meals financial institution and has had his title altered for this text, stated: “The Community Hub is an excellent challenge and has helped me and Tyler (his canine) out thrice in as many months.
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“The cost of residing disaster many people are going through proper now additionally impacts the animals we personal and love and I’m so grateful to the workforce for the assistance they’ve supplied to us.”
After securing new premises, the department was inundated with donations for his or her new store – together with second-hand furnishings from Durham Council Council.
A devoted cost-of-living hub and phone helpline (0300 123 0650) has been arrange by the RSPCA and pet house owners are being urged to hunt assist if required.
