Rising costs spark Wythall Animal Sanctuary closure fears

Staff manager Danielle Howard says the centre is losing about £20,000 each month

Rising costs could force the closure of an animal sanctuary which has rehomed pets for more than 50 years, staff say.

Wythall Animal Sanctuary, which looks after 70 pets, has been hit by rising costs and is unable to take in any more animals, they add.

The centre in Worcestershire has appealed for donations and more volunteers and is also holding fundraising events.

Worker Ross Young said being unable to help more animals was "heart-breaking".

"We are fending off a lot of phone calls," he said. "We get on average 20 phone calls a day from people wanting to surrender animals, whether it's cats, dogs, rabbits.

"[It's] a very, very difficult time to be in this situation and I understand quite a lot of people are in this situation already but we really, really want to get out of it so we can help as many animals as we possibly can."

The sanctuary has about 70 animals on the site, with most needing new homes

Staff manager Danielle Howard said the charity on Middle Lane, Kings Norton, was losing thousands of pounds each month.

"It's probably a combination of the rising energy costs, rising vet bills and the general cost-of-living crisis that everyone is faced with at the moment," she said.

"Roughly we are losing around £20,000 each month and the more months that go on, the harder it is hitting us."

Judy Paige, who has volunteered at the site for two years, added it provided a vital service and hoped it could be saved.

"The love and care that these animals get is just amazing and it would just be awful if we had to close," she said.

Shropshire Cat Rescue has also appealed for donations with about 50 cats on a waiting list for their help

Meanwhile, staff with Shropshire Cat Rescue have also appealed for donations as their waiting list for help grows.

The centre had people with about 50 felines wanting their support, trustee Susie Phillips said.

"We have to do a little jigsaw puzzle on cats going out and work out which are the most urgent and need to come in," she said.

The electricity bill has risen four times since the cost-of-living crisis began and Ms Phillips said the centre also needed food and toys.

"It's really difficult - we just have to know we are doing the best we can for the ones in our care," she added.