Oak Tree Animals' Acorn News Autumn/Winter 2021

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Acorn News News, views and more from Oak Tree

Autumn/Winter 2021


About Us...

Working for our community; caring for animals; making a difference. Oak Tree has been helping animals for 112 years. We are passionate about animal welfare and believe that every animal matters, helping hundreds of animals every year. Throughout the pandemic we have been able to support the most vulnerable to prevent animal suffering, provide a voice for animals to policy-makers, both locally and nationally, and support pet owners in our region.

help companion animals in able home and need. Finding them a safe and comfort and their needs, helping the community to underst through support and education.

Our mission is to

We find dogs, cats and horses loving new homes, rescuing and rehabilitating them to give them the best chance of a bright future. Rehoming is intrinsically reactive, something has gone wrong. Our proactive community approach seeks to find solutions for pet owners, wherever practical and appropriate, keeping pets in loving homes and avoiding unnecessary stress and heartache. We work alongside our partners at the foodbank, social services, housing associations and other local organisations to help vulnerable pet owners who desperately need our help. Our Helping Paw programme provides vital short-term fostering for those who are homeless or fleeing domestic violence, helping them rebuild lives while knowing their pet is safe and well cared for. We run community clinics and training classes to offer welfare advice and support and we also work with schools and community groups to educate the next generation of pet owners. But we couldn’t do anything without you, our amazing supporters. We need to raise £2,700 every day to carry out our services to help the animals and owners in our region. For 112 years this charity has been shaped and built on the generosity of our community. Your support is vital to the charity and animals in our region.

Thank you. Oak Tree Animals’ Charity, Oak Tree Farm, Wetheral Shields, Carlisle, CA4 8JA Open 7 days a week 10.00am – 4.00pm

T: 01228 560082 E: info@oaktreeanimals.org.uk W: www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk General Manager: Caroline Johnson. Fundraising and Communications Manager: Sarah Batty Oak Tree Animals’ Charity is a Registered Charity – Number 1169511 / SC048389. Copyright OTAC 2021. All articles and photographs remain the property of Oak Tree Animals’ Charity and may not be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the Charity. Company Limited by Guarantee 10404912 Registered in England and Wales.


Welcome

to our Autumn/Winter Newsletter

For the Team at Oak Tree, 2021 has been a year of change. As a charity, we have needed to adapt in a rapidly changing world to ensure we are able to best support animals and owners facing new challenges brought about by the pandemic. With 27% of dogs and 34% of cats owned since March 2020 showing behaviour that could be related to a lack of socialisation, our Training and Behaviour Team is tackling situations, not seen before, to keep pets and owners together wherever possible and appropriate.

We continue to work with our partners in other animal and human charities to ensure we are able to get the right results for animal welfare – every pet has a human! Our relationships with those in housing services, refuges and social services have enabled us to keep pets in loving homes wherever possible and provide temporary foster care. This has allowed those who are homeless or fleeing domestic violence to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives for both themselves and their much-loved pets.

In Spring 2021, we launched our new strategy in response to the pandemic, providing us with a clear plan to support animals and owners, and ensuring that we are able to generate the income we need to make a difference to so many animals’ lives. We are excited to be opening several new charity shops throughout our region, not only to generate much-needed funds, but also to provide local contact points for those who need our help.

However, we can do nothing without you, our supporters. Thank you so much for your help throughout this challenging period. Your kind words, generous donations of items, money, goods and time, and messages of support have really helped us to keep going when times have been tough. Thank you; you have been absolutely amazing! Stay safe and thank you so much for everything you do for animals.

Caroline


WHERE ARE Older dogs can often get overlooked for adoption so when 12 year old Maisie came to us in May, we were thrilled that she was snapped up so quickly! Her adopters told us: “We have a soft spot for older dogs and when we saw that Maisie needed a little retirement, we could not resist. She has fitted in with our other dogs really well and is such a laid back, happy character, (on the left with another adoptee Floyd). Although she is completely deaf, she picks up new hand signals with ease and has been an absolute pleasure. Maisie has taken to her new retirement so quickly, she takes a stroll round the cool woods with us every day and just loves to be brushed. She may be a little wobbly on her pins, but she has oodles of character. We are really pleased to have her in our family.”

MAISIE


THEY NOW? One of the most common reasons for cats coming to Oak Tree is because their owners are moving home and are unable to find petfriendly accommodation. This is a big issue for us and pet owners in the area as Carlisle has the lowest percentage of pet-friendly rentals in the UK. Visit our website and search for “Pets in Rentals” to see one of the ways we are trying to tackle the lack of petfriendly rentals in Carlisle through working with landlords and letting agencies.

MICKEY

Simba and Mickey are two big handsome lads who came to us for that very reason. They had been well loved and the family were heartbroken to have to rehome them due to circumstances beyond their control. Luckily, it didn’t take Simba and Mickey long to find a new home where they quickly settled and are now Lords of the Manor! Their adopters reported that within a couple of hours of coming home Simba fell asleep in the middle of the lounge with his legs in the air!

SIMBA


WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

STARDUST Stardust arrived at Oak Tree in June 2020. She was holding an immense amount of weight for her size. In just a year Stardust managed to lose over 100kg through exercise and a strict diet. Stardust’s amazing transformation even captured the interest of a local newspaper and ITV Border News! With Stardust’s cheeky and loveable nature, it wasn’t long before she found her forever home with a young family. Her new family have been updating the Equine Team on her progress as follows “Stardust has settled in nicely and is very happy with her new best friend Darcy. She is enjoying a variety of hacking in nearby forests”. As well as this, Stardust recently had fun participating in her first in-hand show. We look forward to seeing what Stardust gets up to in the future.


WORKING WITH EQUINES This spring / summer we have been busy working with a number of our equines. Cosmo and Daisy have been working on trailer training. Using positive reinforcement, the Team can ensure that from their first journey onwards, they have a good experience. It is important in their younger days that they get the right education to set the foundations for their future training. Prior to arriving at Oak Tree many of our equines have had very little handling. It is our job to create a training plan to enhance their rehoming chances. Part of this training involves groundwork and desensitisation and for those showing potential to be ridden ponies, training will progress to breaking in.

Pony Care Days The Pony Care Days have been a huge success this summer with the Team running four fully subscribed events. All the children have left with useful knowledge, on not only what it takes to look after a pony, but also wider information to use when out and about in the countryside.

Rehoming So far this year, we have successfully found six ponies their forever homes. Paya and Stardust have been rehomed as riding ponies, and Oliver, Pie, Ruby and Lou Lou as companions.

New Residents Bramble and Gremlin our Saanen goats arrived earlier this year. They love going for walks around site with Matilda! As permanent residents they are available for sponsorship. Check out their information pack. www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk/get-involved/animal-sponsorship


Volunteering We would be lost without our fabulous volunteers and are incredibly grateful for everything they contribute here at Oak Tree. There are lots of ways you can help through volunteering at the charity.

Callum

Woodland and Book Shop Volunteer

If you would like to join our dedicated team of volunteers, simply visit our website.

Levi

Donation Sorting Volunteer

Ted

Tractor Driver Volunteer

Joan

Fundraising Volunteer

Alternatively, if you would prefer to discuss your options, or can offer a specific skill, please email: volunteer@oaktreeanimals.org.uk


GET INVOLVED! Thank you to all our amazing volunteers who help and support us at our weekly Orchard Yard sale. If you would like to get involved visit our website or email volunteer@oaktreeanimals.org.uk


SPEAKING SPEAKING UP UP FOR FOR ANIMALS ANIMALS 2021 has been an exciting time for the development of animal welfare legislation in the UK, and for the development of our advocacy work to raise our voice to improve animal welfare. We continue to lobby policymakers on a variety of animal welfare issues and, throughout the summer, spoke with Dr Neil Hudson MP, John Stevenson MP and Tim Farron MP to highlight some of the animal welfare issues we are seeing in our region. We are grateful that all of them have submitted Parliamentary Questions on our behalf and pledged their support for animal welfare. With the increase in “staycations” this year, our Community Team have been raising awareness of the importance of dogs being on leads, as appropriate, in the Lake District - both for livestock reasons and for the preservation of local wildlife breeding grounds. We have also lent our support to the #FlopDontCrop campaign to raise awareness of the dangers and cruel practices around earcropping in dogs and, in one of our recent “Petpods” (our monthly podcast), we had the chance to talk with Vet James Brocket about the rise in ear-cropped dogs in the UK. You can listen to it at www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk/about/petpod

#FlopDontCrop Do keep an eye on our social media pages and website for information about our advocacy work and how you can help.


You can drop your donations into one of our shops or Oak Tree Farm REUSE, RECYCLE AND RAISE FUNDS FOR ANIMALS! We are excited to announce the launch of our new charity shops throughout our region. These shops not only provide an opportunity for us to raise much-needed funds to help animals and their owners, but also create Community Hubs, where those If you GiftinAid need your goods wecan can claiaccess m an our help.

additionalFunding 25% for animals atisno extraancoston-going challenge, particularly in the current economic climate, and we are delighted to be able to maximise the benefit of your to you. Askdonated our shop teams orgoods reception for for animals in need (a huge thank you to those who also Gift Aid your donation allowing us to claim an additional 25% from the on your gift). An additional bonus is that we can reuse and more infogovernment rmation. recycle these donated goods, ensuring less waste goes to landfill – a real win-win for animals and the environment!

We will be launching our charity shops throughout Autumn 2021 starting with Carlisle - English Street, Workington, Cockermouth and Penrith. These are all areas we already work extensively in, with both our Community Team and rehoming services, and these shops will provide people with easier access to our support. If you would like to get involved and join our shop volunteer team, please contact us on volunteer@oaktreeanimals. org.uk or talk to one of our shop managers. We really look forward to seeing you in our shops soon!

Donate your unwanted household items to help animals.

Unwanted clothes, accessories, shoes, books, DVD’s, furniture, bric-a-brac, bikes etc can all be recycled to help animals in need in our region. You can dropunwanted your donations into one of our shopsto or help Oak Tree Farm Donate your household items animals.

Unwanted clothes, accessories, shoes, books, DVD’s, furniture, bric-a-brac, bikes etc can all be recycled to help If you Gift Aid your goods we can claim an animals region. additionalin 25%need for animals in at no our extra cost to you. Ask our shop teams or reception for

You can your donations into one of our shops or Oak Tree Farm moredrop information.

If you Gift Aid your goods we can claim an additional 25% for animals at no extra cost to you. Ask our shop teams or reception for more information.

Oak Tree Animals’ Charity, Oak Tree Farm, Wetheral Shields, Carlisle CA4 8JA www.oaktreeanimals.org.u Oak Tree Animals’ Charity, Oak Tree Farm, Wetheral Shields, Carlisle CA4 8JA

www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk


LOOKING FOR QUIRKY AND UNIQUE ITEMS TO BUY? Why not visit our eBay page and have a browse! If you add Oak Tree to your favourites list you can keep up with our regular uploads; from games, to clothes, to collectables, we have all sorts of interesting bits and pieces. View our page by visiting:

www.ebay.co.uk/str/oaktreeanimals

HAPPY BIDDING!


ORDER YOUR

CHRISTMAS CARDS! All cards come in packs of 10 and are £2.99 per pack. Cards read inside: ‘With all Good Wishes for Christmas and the New Year’. You can also order directly from our online shop: www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk

Rock n Roll Cats & Dogs

Black & White Cats

Golden Retriever in the Snow


ALL NEW CHRISTMAS CARDS!

Donkey Friends

Scottie Dogs in The Snow

We Three Sheep

Shep’s Tractor

P&P: £3.50 for all orders up to the value of £10.00 and £5.50 for all orders over £10.00. We aim to deliver your cards within 1-2 weeks, depending on availability. Please order by 17/12/21 to receive your cards before Christmas.


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E D U C AT I O N A N D L E A R N I N G BACK TO SCHOOL! We’ve been so excited to get back to face to face sessions with primary and secondary schools over the past few months, as they have started welcoming visitors back. It’s been great to see the children and they have been so enthusiastic to see us! We’ve been to Rockcliffe Primary, Ullswater Community College, Keswick School, William Howard School and Educla, as well as hosting visits for some of them here at Oak Tree Farm. We’ve supported some of the practical elements of the BTEC in Animal Care, mentored a Business Leadership competition - focussing on keeping pets happy when owners return to work after the pandemic - and run a course in understanding pet communication. Developing knowledge and understanding of animal welfare is always fundamental to our sessions, and we have lots of fun along the way!

If you run a school or community group, get in touch via community@oaktreeanimals.org.uk to arrange a session.


Training Training Training classes are in full swing at Oak Tree! Our Acorn Puppy Class is the new way for owners to learn how to train their dogs. We teach basic skills and techniques so owners can feel confident about how to continue training their dog even when Puppy Class is over. Do you want to know how to communicate? How your dog learns? How you can utilise that information to create an easier, everyday life with your dog? This is what our Life Skills class is all about – further training for dogs who are too mature for Puppy Class.

Did you know? Our Training Team have a wealth of experience and qualifications behind them, ranging from college and postgraduate level, teaching classes, running workshops to dog handling. Continuous learning is crucial for trainers and our Team are always working hard to offer the most up-to-date and effective techniques for you and your dog.


COMMERCIAL PARTICIPATOR SPOTLIGHT! We are grateful to each and every corporate that chooses to support us in some way and are delighted that several businesses have committed to helping us over and above the course of their everyday business - either by donating a percentage of profits or sponsoring us for a specified amount of time. In doing so, they have become Commercial Participators.

In this issue of Acorn News we would like to turn the spotlight on the following: Spotty Dog Days are very generously donating 30% of their amazing artwork fee to Oak Tree for any pet portrait ordered using the code below. Simply contact Spotty Dog Days through their Facebook page quoting ‘OTAC30’. The Happy Herdwick, who are based in Orchard Yard here at Oak Tree, are very kindly supporting us by donating 50% of the proceeds from sales of felt models of resident goat Matilda, and donkeys Charlie and Pringle! They have recently added Matilda keyrings and coasters to the collection. OSCAR Pet Foods Carlisle are very generously donating 50% of profit on sales of OSCAR products generated in the Oak Tree Shop. Keep your eyes peeled for their super-smart OSCAR van and don’t forget to give Stuart Edgar a wave as he carries out his pet deliveries throughout Carlisle and the surrounding area (including our shop here in Wetheral Shields)! Burns Pet Nutrition specialises in award-winning natural pet food for cats, dogs and rabbits. All Burns products are designed to help pets to thrive and are made using simple, wholesome ingredients with absolutely no nasties. They very kindly chose to sponsor all our dog and cat food for 12 months! Find out more about these companies by visiting the corporate page on our website. We would also like to mention Carlisle Local Market HSBC who continue to support us in numerous ways – from taking part in our ‘Doghouse Challenge’, to volunteering on site and sourcing match-funding for various fundraising activities they’re undertaking. Huge thanks to all our Commercial Participators and Corporate Partners for their support. Please contact our Fundraising Team if you would like to learn more about partnering with Oak Tree. Email fundraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk.


A BIG THANK YOU TO:

Action Ants for donating 100% of the proceeds from a fun, active coaching morning for children. Our Commercial Participators for donating a percentage of profits to Oak Tree (see Page 15). Burns Pet Nutrition who kindly chose to sponsor all our dog and cat food for 12 months! Carlisle Local Market HSBC who support us in various ways. Dan Graham from D M Graham Ground Works for building a much-needed shelter in our outdoor paddock providing shelter for our animals and owners alike. Jolly Dog Photography for taking some amazing photographs at our Open Day. Enesco Limited for their generous donations throughout the year. Claire and Paul Skeates for raising a huge amount of money by hosting an Open Garden and Plant Sale. All our fantastic individual fundraisers who have undertaken their own fundraisers to raise an incredible amount of money for Oak Tree, whether saving £1 coins, running virtual events, completing the Great North Run or the Great North Swim.

All our Facebook Fundraisers who have raised money for their birthday or other event. The local Amazon Team who kindly donate generously to Oak Tree. The local schools who are spreading awareness and promoting animal welfare, running raffles and “guessing the name of….” competitions and making items to raise money. The people who responded to our social media appeals for kitten food, Wishlist items and to the family who donated bales of much needed hay for our equines. The Fairydust Emporium, Silloth, for their support and for providing a wonderful Raffle Prize. The Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Pam Birks, who has nominated Oak Tree as one of her charities for 2021/2022 and for her involvement in our events this year. All the extremely kind donators of the prizes for our Christmas Grand Draw: Nithsdale Stories & Wheels; Heads Nook Hall; Lancrigg Hotel & Restaurant; Angel Hair Studio; Spotty Dog Days. Our exceptionally hardworking Volunteers who dedicate so much of their time and energy, enabling Oak Tree to help many animals and their owners in the community. Lastly, to every single one of our supporters and, to you, for reading this Newsletter!


EVENTS STILL TO COME IN 2021/2022 We are delighted to welcome visitors back to Oak Tree and look forward to seeing you at our fairs and events detailed below:

HALLOWEEK – FROM 23rd – 31st OCTOBER 2021 During Half Term Week, Oak Tree’s site will be the scene for an exciting story trail where children need to find clues to help King Oakley back to his throne! Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for further details.

CHRISTMAS FAIR – SATURDAY, 20th NOVEMBER Take the opportunity to kick-start the festive season at our Christmas Fair which will take place at our site near Wetheral on Saturday, 20th November. Buy hand-crafted presents at our Arts and Crafts Fair, rummage for a bargain in our Orchard Yard Jumble Sale, and let the children take part in the fun activities available. When your feet need a rest, head over to the Tearoom for refreshments. Check out our website for further information.

CHRISTMAS GRAND DRAW 2021 - £1 A TICKET Tickets available online, at Oak Tree or in our shops! We are delighted to present a selection of amazing prizes, made available by supportive businesses in our region. Our main prize is a customised tour in a classic car through delightful Dumfries and Galloway, with Nithsdale Stories & Wheels. Among a variety of highlights, this tour includes a picnic lunch provided by MML bakeries in Dumfries and free entry to two major destinations. Who wouldn’t fancy a complete getaway and relaxation at one of the superb local hotel breaks that have been donated by Heads Nook Hall and Lancrigg Hotel and Restaurant? Pamper yourself after the Christmas activities with a beauty treatment – cut, colour and gel nails – offered by Angel Hair Studio, Carlisle. More prizes and further details available on our website.

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EVENTS STILL TO COME IN 2021/2022 OAK TREE WEEKLY VIRTUAL QUIZ Every Thursday at 8pm sharp, £3 per quiz Pit your knowledge against the clock and your unseen opponents for 20 minutes of competitive fun! Cash prizes to be won! The more people taking part, the bigger the prize fund and the more Oak Tree will raise for animals in need. Find out how to sign up and play on our website’s Events pages.

COMING SOON: RUN FOR RESCUE 2022 Back by popular demand Meet up with other Runners for Rescue in our popular Facebook community. Sign up by pledging £15 for a month of happy exercising and raising much-needed funds. You will be rewarded with a pawsome medal. You have the whole month to cover the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles). Run, jog, walk, cycle, swim or ride the distance and, of course, you can take your fourlegged friend with you! Go to our website, click on Events to find out more!

LOOK OUT FOR ALL UPCOMING EVENTS, ONLINE ACTIVITIES AND COMPETITIONS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND WEBSITE


WETHERAL CAT AND KITTENS

The charity received a call regarding a feral, female cat living around the Wetheral area. The female had young kittens who were approximately four days old and were heavily reliant on the mother cat to provide them with all their needs. We, therefore, decided to wait until the kittens were old enough before trying to trap, neuter/spay and release them (TNR). After a couple of weeks, the cat and kittens stopped turning up to the regular feeding area where the kittens were born and, on checking, had moved on. Following this, we engaged with the local community through their local NextDoor group, asking everybody to keep an eye out for the little feline family. After a month we got lucky! A member of the public had noticed the mum and kittens visiting her garden each day, playing and feeding. We supplied a dummy crate and kept a feeding routine going for three days, after which time we caught all four kittens on the same day. The kittens came into Oak Tree to be rehomed and, before long,

found their new adoptive families! As for the mum? She was caught and spayed, then released back to where she came from, under the care of her feeder. In the future, these kittens and female cat will not add to an ever-growing number of feral cats across Cumbria. Thanks to everybody in Wetheral who joined in with the search and supported us every step of the way! For further information on the work our Community Team are involved with please take a look at www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk/ Community/What-we-do.


Please Choose Carefully With the increase in dog theft, puppy farming and the cost of buying a pet, it is even more important than ever to be vigilant when choosing your next dog.

Please: •

Research breeds. Which characteristics fit best with your family and lifestyle?

Only buy from a reputable breeder or rehome from a registered charity.

If from a breeder, ask to see the mother and ensure you see her with the puppies. Ask about the dog’s family and veterinary history.

Will they be micro chipped, vaccinated and treated for worms and fleas prior to going home?

Ask to see dogs in the home, not in remote locations or car parks.

Check with the Kennel Club if the breeder says they are registered.

What support and advice is available once you have taken your pet home?

Check www.puppycontract.org.uk to help with the process of buying a puppy.

There has also been an increase in illegal practices such as tail docking and ear cropping. Some of these dogs originate from overseas but some are sent from the UK to have this done to them. Please do not encourage these unnecessary and painful procedures.


THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING A TRAINER! 75% of UK owners want to change one or more behaviours in their dog. Finding the right trainer can be hard. Currently, this sector is unregulated, anyone can set themselves up as a trainer or behaviourist. This leads to huge challenges and often poor advice being given, making the situation even worse. Recently, we have seen increasing use of ineffective training techniques exacerbating the problem and destroying the pet-owner relationship. These include: using prong collars (pronged choke-chains that pinch the neck so any “corrections” are more severe); “leash-popping” where owners are encouraged to jerk back on their lead to correct the dog into ‘heel’ (this can lead to anxiety and even cause physical injury); and even owners being encouraged to “waft” their armpits to ensure the dog can “sense” the handler’s emotion. Our top tips for finding a trainer/behaviourist: • Check their qualifications and practical experience. • Who are they accredited with? • Ask your vet for recommendations. • Watch a class before attending. • Do they use positive techniques? Could what you are being asked to do hurt or scare your dog, or damage your relationship with them? • Walk away from a class if it’s not right for you or your dog. We will shortly publish our guide on how to find the right trainer/behaviourist for you. Keep an eye on our social media pages and website for more information. If you need our help with training or behaviour issues please email: training@oaktreeanimals.org.uk.


Tails from the Tearoom

OPEN DAILY 10AM - 4PM

HOMEMADE SWEET & SAVOURY TREATS AWAIT Our Tearoom has been a hive of activity over the summer with visitors coming from far and wide after lockdown - it’s been great to see you all! We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded a grant by HSBC UK to develop our outdoor Tearoom area as a community space. This will enable us to provide protection from the Cumbrian wind and rain for individuals, families and community groups to enjoy Oak Tree activities and access support, enabling our activities to continue whatever the weather! Thank you so much HSBC UK! We loved meeting the bikers from North West AJS & Matchless Owners Club who stopped off for a welldeserved cup of tea and cakes during their rally. The newly refurbished Tearoom at Oak Tree offers a selection of delicious home-made scones and mouth-watering cakes to tempt you, along with a nice cup of Rosy Lee or a freshly made John Watt & Son Coffee House coffee. We also provide savoury items for lunch including jacket potatoes, toasties and ciabatta rolls. The hardest decision will be what to choose! Open 7 days a week between 10.00am and 4.00pm - come and take a look!


HOW YOU CAN HELP You are already helping us by reading this newsletter and taking an interest in Oak Tree! We are always extremely grateful for the loyalty and generosity demonstrated by our supporters. If you have already donated via text, Facebook, our website or Just Giving, or if you’ve sent in cheques, taken on a fundraiser or donated food and treats, we are enormously grateful – thank you! There are so many ways you can continue to help us – or encourage others to – which will make a huge difference to the animals in your community.

You could:

• Sponsor an animal

• Volunteer

• Fundraise for us

• Visit us

• Come to our events

• Set up a regular donation or make a one-off donation (and, if you’re eligible, Gift Aid your donation – this gives us 25% more!)

• Join our lottery

• Help raise awareness (by telling just one person about us, you’re helping to do this!)

• Shop using either Amazon Smile, Amazon Wish List, Easy Fundraising or another platform that supports us

• Leave a gift in your will

• Visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages! • Adopt an animal

Learn more by visiting www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk and view our ‘Get Involved’ and ‘Events’ sections to see the variety of ways you can continue helping animals and owners in need. If you’re interested in making a regular donation, or want to fundraise for us, please email fundraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk. If you have a more general enquiry, please email info@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or telephone 01228 560082 Ext.225 during opening hours. If you would like to make a donation today, please either use the form on the next page, or donate via our website, Facebook, or over the telephone. The animals, staff and volunteers THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. Together, we are achieving amazing things.


To help make a difference to the lives of hundreds of animals, please choose an option below. For regular giving standing orders, please either complete the following and give directly to your bank, or set up via online banking.

Standing Order – ONLINE You have two options if you would like to donate online: 1) Set up via your online / mobile banking. You will need the following details: Oak Tree Animals’ Charity A/C No. 54102146 … Sort Code 16-52-21 OR 2) Visit our website and click the ‘donate’ button – you can set up a regular donation via Just Giving (please note, JG Gift Aid admin charges will apply) Alternatively, please complete the form below and hand in to your bank: Standing Order – BANK FORM Bank or Building Society: ___________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Postcode: ______________ Sort Code: ____________________________

Account Number: ______________________

Name of Account: ________________________ Full Name: _______________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Postcode: __________________ Telephone number: _________________________ Please pay to Oak Tree Animals’ Charity, Oak Tree Farm, Wetheral Shields, Carlisle, CA4 8JA c/o The Cumberland, Cumberland House, Cooper Way, Carlisle CA3 0JF. Account Number 54102146

Sort Code 16-52-21

The sum of: £_____ (Monthly / Quarterly / Annually) Start date:___/___/___ Reference: REGGIVER Signature:

________________________________________ Date: __________________________

Single Donation: We are very grateful for every donation we receive towards our work and the animals in our care, thank you. If paying by cheque please make payable to ‘Oak Tree Animals’ Charity’ and send to Oak Tree Animals’ Charity, Oak Tree Farm, Wetheral Shields, Carlisle, CA4 8JA. If you would prefer to pay over the telephone, please call us on 01228 560082 Ext.225 Alternatively, lots of other ways to donate can be found on our website homepage! Thank you for arranging to make either a regular or one-off donation in support of our work. However you choose to donate, please notify Oak Tree of your kind contribution, along with your contact details, so that we can update our records and properly acknowledge your kind donation. Email fundraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk to provide this information or write to the address above. If you would like to Gift Aid your regular donation, please complete our Gift Aid Form. This can be downloaded from our website, or get in touch and we can pop one in the post for you.

Thank you for your support! Privacy statement To ensure the privacy of our contacts is highly protected, we keep our supporters’ details secure, following the recommended Fundraising Regulatory guidelines, and we never sell data. The data provided on this form will be used by your bank to process your regular donation.


Let your love of animals live on… Leave a gift in your will Legacies allow us to help thousands of animals every year escape suffering and find their second chance. To find out more, please visit www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk or email legacy@oaktreeanimals.org.uk


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