Unwanted pets are being dumped in bags and boxes in the street by owners who are struggling to care for them amid the soaring cost of living pressures. One charity boss has even spoken about receiving death threats from people desperate for their animals to be taken away.
Helpless kittens and rabbits are among the animals that are being welcomed into the care of charity Changing Lives, in Carrington. But, rising vet bills and the day to day costs of looking after them now means the charity is having to scramble to find between £7,000 and £15,000 every month - with no government support.
Founder Nicole McGawley, 24, first set up the charity amid the Covid-19 pandemic, after seeing heartbreaking videos of young kittens being abused circulating on social media. What started out as a few crates in a stable at a farm soon grew into something more.
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Like other animal charities, Nicole now finds herself in a crisis. Limited space and the immense pressures to care for a soaring number of pets left at her doorstep mean the 24-year-old is now receiving death threats and the overhanging responsibility of keeping the cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs in her care alive.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, she said: "I have always been an animal lover. It started when I saw videos of a cat being mistreated on social media and I wondered what I could to help pets that can't be cared for.
"I have always been ambitious and wanted to make a change so decided to set up the animal rescue charity. At first, I was living on a farm and set up in the stables with a few crates but then we started getting bigger and bigger. We had to buy two shipping containers and then had to buy another. I have space for 20 cats but we currently have 56."
Nicole has noticed a huge increase in the number of animals in need of being cared for and rehomed, particularly cats, because owners can't afford to have them neutered, meaning they often have a litter of kittens that cannot be cared for.
And amid the mounting pressures, she has even received death threats and threatening messages from people demanding she take responsibility for their now-unwanted pets. One message said: "If my cat dies, it is your fault."
Pancake, one nine-week-old kitten currently in Nicole's care, needs urgent surgery for a collapsed rib cage that is pressing on her heart and lung. The condition will kill her if she doesn't get the operation before turning 12-weeks-old.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in surrenders over the last 12 months,” she added. “Mainly due to people not being able to look after their pets following their return to the office, or the fact that they simply can’t afford to feed them anymore.
"In Covid, everybody was getting animals but now they can't afford to look after them. There are even people who go to food banks for pets.
“With so many rescue centres full or unable to afford to take in more animals, we’re finding more are being dumped in bags or boxes on the street and left to fend for themselves. The lucky ones make their way to us and other sanctuaries but others aren’t so fortunate. It’s so upsetting to see.
“As we get no government funding, we rely solely on the generosity of the general public to help us provide care. However, with the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, we’re struggling to stay afloat.
“We desperately need sponsorships and funds, as well as donations of food, cat litter, shavings and cleaning products. We know times are tough but anything people can give would be hugely appreciated.”
Donations to Changing Lives at Carrington can be made via Paypal https://www.paypal.me/changinglivesanimals, Amazon (here) or dropped in at its premises (Nursery Farm, Isherwood Road, Carrington, M31 4BH).
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