Nowhere is the saying ‘a dog is for life and not just for Christmas’ more pertinent than for charities such as Bristol Animal Rescue Centre (ARC), which provides care for and rehomes over 14,000 vulnerable animals each year. The charity has launched a special Christmas appeal to highlight the impact the cost of living crisis is having on pets while raising funds to help it continue to offer free and affordable access to vet care for those on low incomes, as well as caring for pets given up by their owners.
ARC receives no external funding, and its costs have skyrocketed recently, with the charity’s energy bill set to rise by £17,000. At the same time, demand for its outreach services is 54 per cent higher than last year.
To help draw attention to the work it is undertaking in increasingly challenging circumstances, ARC is sharing stories of some of the animals it has helped over the past year that are still looking for their forever home. Speaking about ARC’s Christmas appeal, Dr Damian Pacini, principal vet at ARC, said: “We know that the pressure is on all of us this year, and you're probably feeling the pinch too.
