Public urged to 'donate a dinner' to animal centres

Naturewatch CEO Sarah Carr said rescues across the country were struggling

An animal welfare charity is encouraging people to donate a dinner to their local rescue centre.

The campaign by charity Naturewatch Foundation (NF), based in Cheltenham, is to mark the 100th anniversary of World Animal Day, an international day of action for animal rights and welfare.

Sarah Carr, chief executive of NF said it comes as animal rescue centres nationally, including in Somerset, Bristol and Wiltshire are "struggling" from rising costs and the number of abandoned animals and costs.

"Donating a dinner is such a simple but powerful way to show kindness," she added.

"Every meal donated helps an animal in need and supports the incredible people who care for them," she added.

Ms Carr said the initiative was a "very special" way to mark 100 years of World Animal Day, a movement that NF has coordinated for the last 20 years.

Ms Carr said the UK is a country of "animal lovers" and encouraged those who can afford to help the "hundreds" of shelters "up and down the country" who would "really value support at this time", to get involved.

She said: "They've [animal shelters] got that mixture of the increases of prices in food, of fuel, all of those sort of things and at the same time, sadly, there's quite a lot of people who are giving up their animals."

Ms Carr said it could even be "one tin of dog food" or local community groups like the "local Brownies" could get involved.

"Anything that people can [do] makes a massive difference," she added.

Vale Hospital in Tewkesbury received 100 dinners from the Naturewatch Foundation

To get the ball rolling, Naturewatch Foundation donated 100 dinners to Vale Wildlife Hospital in Tewkesbury.

Natalie Gould at Vale Wildlife Hospital said they were "thrilled" to have the support by the donate a dinner campaign.

"With over 8,000 British wildlife casualties coming through our doors annually, food costs for the charity are exceptionally high," she said.

Ms Gould said the campaign had allowed them to support and feed more sick, injured and orphaned wildlife.