Bright future for RSPCA centre saved by community

RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield & District branch has been under threat of closure.

An animal centre in West Yorkshire facing imminent threat of closure has been thrown a lifeline, after both the community and a national charity came to its rescue.

RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield & District Branch had described its financial situation as "critical", with the branch compelled to stop taking in and rehoming dogs.

Yet, just a month on, the future of the self-funded animal rescue centre in East Ardsley looks bright, after it received donations of more than £73,000 - and was given a new role by the RSPCA.

Under the new initiative, the branch will focus on rehabilitating "the most abused and neglected" dogs, in preparation for them being rehomed elsewhere.

The centre will now focus on rehabilitating the "most abused and neglected" dogs

"We have now got some hope," said Caroline Lewis-Jones, chief executive of the branch.

"We're looking to engage in a new initiative with the national society - which has come out of the blue.

"They've invited us to participate in a very special project which has meant that we can keep a number of our animal centre [staff] roles - and we will be taking dogs back into the centre, which is just the most amazing thing!

"They won't be dogs for re-homing - they'll be the most abused and neglected - but they'll be with us for a number of weeks until they're deemed suitable for re-homing."

The rehabilitation project will allow the centre to retain four staff roles, as well as a number of volunteers, to help care for, support and train the neglected dogs.

Ms Lewis-Jones said she was bowled over by the donations the centre had received: "If I could give everybody a hug who put money in the pot, whether it was a penny or £100, or £500, or £1000 - or more than that, I would."

"It's incredible, and I'm lost for words, to be honest."