Animal rescue’s “urgent” appeal to save it from closure

Lisa Rhodes, 56, who lives in Heswall, says her Liverpool Dog and Animal Rescue charity shop takings have “plummeted” over the last 18 months.

She issued an urgent plea for shop volunteers, fundraisers and donations to keep the rescue going.

The shop, at 101 County Road, Walton, is the charity’s only source of income.

Lisa, 56, who lives in Heswall (Image: Liverpool Dog and Animal Rescue)

Mrs Rhodes hopes to get the rescue financially stable again and re-open its kennels – as animal abandonment levels are at a record high.

She said: “At the moment we have just £30 in the bank. The shop’s taking have dropped yet a lot of our bills have doubled, such as gas and electric.

“We’ve got water, rates, wages, building insurance, public liability insurance, as well as boarding kennel fees and vet fees, which can run into thousands.

“We always make sure our dogs are neutered, vaccinated, wormed and defleaed.

“We are doing what we can right now to help animals but unfortunately it can only be on a very small scale.”

Liverpool Dog and Animal Rescue, a registered charity, started in 1990, although Mrs Rhodes has been involved in animal rescue for over 30 years.

Lisa is currently looking after three horses (Image: Liverpool Dog and Animal Rescue)

She first rescued two stray dogs she came across while on holiday in Greece when she was 25.

 Her passion for rescuing animals took over and she dropped her job hours to part time a decade ago and has saved thousands of animals.

In 2009, the rescue opened kennels based in Kensington but Mrs Rhodes said she was forced to move them to Bidston on the Wirral in 2019 after gangs beat up and intimidated elderly volunteers in a bid to steal ‘status’ dogs such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Japanese Akitas.

However, Lisa was devastated when she was forced to close the kennels, which had space for 10 dogs, three years ago after having problems with volunteers.

She said: “My husband spent months renovating the kennels. They were like proper bedrooms, all insulated and a great space for the dogs.

“I’ve always taken in the dogs that due to their behavioural issues would have been put to sleep.

“Some of them were there long term because after being so severely abused they were too aggressive to be rehomed. Closing the kennels was a decision I didn’t take lightly.”

Liverpool Dog and Animal Rescue is currently funding the foster care of four German Shepherds whose owner died.

Another dog saved was an American bulldog cross called Henry, who came to the rescue full of scars and unhealed wounds after a “terrible life” as a bait dog in fights. He had to have major dental work and several operations on his damaged eyelids and tail, which cost thousands of pounds. He lived a happy life as a long-term resident at the rescue, until he developed cancer and was put to sleep.

Mrs Rhodes said she hopes the public will get behind her bid to rescue more animals and open a new facility.

She said: “My inbox is overwhelmed. People threaten to put their dog to sleep if you don’t take them. It breaks my heart when there’s just nothing we can do.

“We have a small number of foster carers but with no kennels, we’re limited.

“Kennels would mean we can offer rescue back up, which is so important. That means if it doesn’t work out for some reason with a dog we’ve rehomed then they can come back to us.

“It breaks my heart when there’s just nothing we can do.

“We’d love to hear from anyone who can organise fundraisers for us such as coffee mornings and car boot sales. And we’d really appreciate supporters making a one-off donation or setting up a monthly donation via PayPal.”

Anyone who wants to help can contact Mrs Rhodes via email on ldrtrustee@gmail.com. Donations can be made via PayPal using the same email or by bank transfer (sort code 20 50 36, account number 13922979).