A WIRRAL animal rescue centre facing closure has helped save a dog described as being “skin and bones”.
Celandine Wood Animal Rescue needs to raise £500,000 in under three weeks for a new premises after being told it must vacate its current shelter due to the building being sold.
It has 50 dogs in its care and also rescues cats and wildlife.
Generous supporters have given £50,000 in this short space of time. But unless the rescue raises the substantial remainder, it may have to pause being able to take in new animals in need like Kermit, a pocket bully – which the founder says is heartbreaking given the record levels being dumped.
Sharon Williams, founder of Celandine Wood Animal Rescue (CWAR) said: “Kermit was completely emaciated and so malnourished you could see the outline of every bone in his body and his fur had gone extremely thinned.”
Kermit came to the rescue in March as a stray and was so poorly and neglected he had to spend a week in the 24-hour veterinary hospital.
Dr Williams added: “We put Kermit on a strict feeding plan.
“It’s important to start slowly when feeding a starved animal. You give them a small amount of food a few times a day.
“Then you gradually increase the amount of food and the feeding frequency. If you feed them too much too soon, they could have digestive and neurological problems.”
Now, he’s a healthy weight and looks a different dog. His dry and flaky skin, caused by malnutrition, has gradually improved too.
With a mended body, this sweet boy just needed a loving home. Thankfully, Laura Brailsford from Nottingham came along and fostered him.
Within weeks, the 27-year-old and her family – dad Denis and four-year-old daughter Faith – decided to keep him.
Laura said: “He’s settled in really well. He loves people and he loves cuddles. He snuggles up with my daughter on the bed. He’s a great dog.”
Dr Williams says she has always taken animals home who were brought in for euthanasia unnecessarily and has saved around 1,000 over the years.
CWAR began last year and had make-shift kennels after a generous barn owner allowed them to use her land for free. Now, said Dr Williams, CWAR wants to “build back bigger and better”.
She said: “We urgently need to raise enough money to get all our dogs safe.
“We’ve been running a rescue on a shoe-string budget and now we’re striving to have a purpose-built facility on our own land to bring us security.
“We want to provide a better shelter environment for our animals and a sanctuary for the dogs we have that are unrehomable.”
The rescue currently is forced to turn away around 10 animals each day.
Dr Williams added: “It’s crucial we save our rescue because the levels of animals being dumped is at a record high – across the UK and Merseyside is especially badly impacted.
“We want to be in a position to never say no to an animal in need.”
To donate to CWAR visit their GoFundme here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-to-purchase-premises-save-many-lives.
To apply to foster or adopt a dog or cat, visit www.celandinewoodanimalrescue.org.uk.
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