Oak Tree Animals' Charity: Vision into Reality 2017 - 2022

Oak Tree Animals’ Charity Vision into Reality 2017 - 2022

Registered Charity No. 1169511

Oak Tree Animals’ Charity has helped animals in need for over 100 years.

Throughout, the Charity has been at the forefront of animal welfare on a national level and, in recent years, has focussed its work within Cumbria and the Border regions.

Oak Tree Animals’ Charity is at the heart of the community. Helping hundreds of animals each year, we find loving new homes for cats, dogs and horses, promote responsible pet ownership through education and outreach activities and work with individuals who need our support.

As the only Charity in Cumbria with full membership of both the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes and the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) we set high standards of welfare, always aiming to comply with robust sector standards.

The Charity has recently undergone a period of evolution to address local and national social changes, including operational transformation, incorporation and the development of a trading arm to help address funding shortfalls and work toward long-term sustainability.

However, there is still much to do. By 2022 we want to be able to: help double the number of animals we were able to in 2016 every year, through our rehoming and community animal welfare activities; cultivate partnerships that enable us to provide animal welfare solutions where it is needed most; and develop our voice to promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare within our region.

This strategy document sets out our new vision, mission and ambitious objectives as we continue our transformation to ensure a sustainable and vibrant future at the heart of the community.

We look forward to working together with you to make our region a better place for animals, pet owners and to all who come into contact with them.

Caroline Johnson General Manager

Our Charity Founded in 1909, our charity is built on firm foundations.

Initially led by Francis Cox, with support from Jerome K. Jerome, Jack London, James Keir Hardie and Winston Churchill, the National Equine Defence League fought tirelessly to improve the lives of equines, achieving reforms in legislation to advance their welfare.

Following our move north to Carlisle, Alfred Brisco, Frank Tebbutt and their teams continued this work, extending our reach to include other animals, including dogs and cats.

Today, we seek to build on these foundations, continuing our work to make sure that every animal matters.

Our Vision is a world where understanding and empathy ensure that all animals are treated with kindness and respect.

Our Mission is to help companion animals in need; finding them a safe and comfortable home and helping the community to understand their needs, through support and education.

Our Values Our values are integral to our everyday work.

They reflect what we stand for and how we evaluate ourselves.

We are proud to be non-judgemental and compassionate in our approach to animals and the people who care for them.

We are forward-thinking and value our work with partner organisations to find effective and informed approaches to animal welfare.

We aim to find the right home for the animals in our care, providing ongoing support and advice to ensure life-long partnerships.

Lucy was brough t bound for France to Oak Tree Farm after being re sc . much human cont In the beginning she proved qu ued from a meat wagon ac t, bu t ov er time, Lucy becam ite difficult as she hadn't had confident around em began working w people. She was brought into ou ore approachable and more r ya ith her to give he r the best chance rd and the equine team This included, to of finding a lovi uching and groo ng new home. m collar on and off, in leading her arou g daily, picking her feet up, prac nd tic in sit g e and catching he putting her head After all this (and r in the field. improvement. In a lot of treats!) her transformatio n no time she beca quietly for the fa me good to hand was obvious; there was a great rri forward to hearin er and vet. Lucy has found a fa le in every way, including stand ing bulous new hom g all of her upda e and we look tes. ere mmunity team w in 2016. Our co or t for the cats and s se ca ng di ar ho pp in several animal ferals ices to provide su We were involved the family alongside other serv household cats and a further 35 and R ith 25 TN w : , k ts re or ca ca w y 60 lved terinar able to . One case invo e met. e able to offer ve humans involved eholder was feeding. We wer each cat’s individual needs wer re su en to that the hous rehoming options

Challenging Horizons Throughout the UK and the world there is a challenging political and economic climate leading to financial pressures on pet owners. As a Charity we are seeing this pressure reflected in many ways including: increased relinquishments or abandonments of animals reduced preventative veterinary care poor nutrition lack of neutering reduced training and behavioural care

In addition, the economic climate has meant that we need to ensure that every penny donated to our charity is used to maximise the benefit to the animals in our care.

In 2016, we changed our ways of working, improving our animal homing services and introducing our community team. Our community team take a pro-active approach to the animal welfare issues we are facing, offering direct support for pet owners at the heart of our community. 2016 saw us able to help 903 animals as a Charity, an increase of 427 animals on 2015.

We have created this plan to build on this success and turn our vision into reality through four strategic priorities: 1) 2) 3) 4)

Animal Welfare Community Education Sustainability

First-class support for our region Human-companion animal interactions are deep-rooted in the life of the North West, they hold communities together. Our companion animals support farming operations, prevent social isolation, save lives on the fells and provide opportunities for recreation and companionship among many other roles.

As members of both the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) and the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) we aim to provide approachable, knowledgeable and professional support for companion animal welfare in our region. We seek to provide a community hub for animal welfare, offering an evidence-based approach on an individual basis to support the public, other organisations and professionals in our sector.

Our Strategic Priorities 1)

Animal Welfare

Animal Welfare is at the heart of our Charity. The welfare of the cats, dogs and equines in our care is of utmost importance. Every animal is unique with individual needs and our staff work hard to ensure that they benefit from an enriched environment and positive and fulfilling interactions with humans during our time with us. We assess our animals thoroughly, providing veterinary, behavioural and training support appropriate to ensure they have the best possible chance of finding their own loving forever home.

After a lot of visits to see Twig and so me careful considera tio n, Twig was rehom ed to Paige and her fami ly. Twig and Paige spent some time getting to know each other, and now they’r e both br im We couldn’t be more ming with confidence. pleased with their pro and the love and af fection that Twig an gress d Paige have for each other.

We look forward to seeing these two gro w together.

Our animal welfare priorities Kennels and catte ries are stressful en vironments.

Our Home2Home service helps redu ce stress by using direct rehom ing to suppor t dogs and cats who would not be able to cope in the Centre environment.

We will: have

appropriately trained and knowledgeable staff and volunteers, able to apply their knowledge pragmatically and appropriately. seek to minimise stress to the animals in our care. We will use flexible animal care models, finding the best solutions for each individual on a case-by-case basis, with greater emphasis on preventative and early intervention strategies and community engagement. aim to find the right home for the animals in our care, recognising that on occasions this may be with us. We will have a clear policy for selecting animals for lifetime and sponsorship care. ensure our animal facilities are fit-for-purpose with improvements to our equine and community facilities including identified intake areas.

2)

Community

We provide direct support at the centre of our community where it is needed. As a Charity, a good community approach is key to our success.

We are committed to our development to ensure that we provide a professional, relevant, knowledgeable and approachable service that can be accessed by all within our region.

We received a telephone call from a ver y distressed member of the public who wa s the dog. Due to no fault of her ow owner of an elderly n, accommodation and the letting the owner had to move proper ty stated tha t no pets we agent’s advert for her new re allowed. The owner and her family were distraught at the thought of losing their mu ch loved pet but called us to help find her a loving new home.

Our small animal team advised her explain her situation and tell them to call the letting agency, a little more about her dog.

The owner followed our advice and say that the landlord had agreed later phoned ecstatically to to let her keep the dog.

By being here to offer advice and able to keep the family togethe suppor t, our team were r and prevent an elderly dog experiencing the stress of the rehoming process.

Our community priorities We will: ensure

that we provide excellent customer service; remaining approachable, managing expectations and operating in a non-judgemental and professional way.

strengthen our reputation to achieve regional prominence as a trusted advocate of animal welfare issues and concerns. maintain

relevance to our community in order to enhance our accessibility and voice.

undertake

social enterprise projects, working collaboratively with partners as appropriate, to extend our reach. seek to break down unnecessary barriers. diversify

our site to attract new sectors of the community to the Charity increasing engagement with our objectives and our supporter base.

maintain

and develop our contact with individuals and groups, to encourage life-long relationships with the Charity.

build

on our existing community animal welfare work to ensure we are able to reach the animals where our help is needed most.

We ‘trap neuter and return’ feral cats in line with International Cat Care guideli nes.

This improves their welfare, ma nages the population and improves the hea lth of the colony.

In 2016 we neutered 269 feral cats preventing the birth of over 1800 unwanted kittens.

3)

Education

Education can change lives for the better. We seek to support and advise animal owners and all who come into contact with animals to prevent issue arising. From flea, worming and nutrition advice to helping new owners select the right animal for their lifestyle, we ensure that we can offer approachable, knowledgeable and professional education to all.

We work with schools and community groups to provide insight into animal welfare issues, animal interactions and offer volunteering opportunities. en breeding farm�. to respond to concerns over a “kitt Our community team were asked multiple litters every had had m ous ages, some of who We were confronted by cats of vari . ers had no idea who the dad was year for much of their lives. The own a, one of the kittens had rhoe diar to Their poor diet was contributing s diseases. Another female cat flu and older cats had other infectiou the wild, and couldn’t be caught in birth was imminently about to give l. Her kittens sadly died. as she had effectively become fera owner, we were able to gain After several days working with the tion of what was wrong from an their understanding and apprecia given time to reflect, the owner and , ethical point of view. In truth was surprised and a bit horrified. ng the cats onto a better outstanding issues, including getti We formed a plan to deal with the and advice to the owner kittens. We also provided support diet and neutering all the cats and s part of what we form k wor of aining kittens. This sort to find suitable homes for any rem . lems prob ding stan long tions to do every day creating lasting solu

Our education priorities We will: work within our community to maximise educational opportunities to promote, inform and advise people about animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. develop our site and use our existing facilities onsite to provide a range of programmes celebrating animal welfare, the work of the Charity and its rich heritage in the development of animal welfare legislation. ensure that we offer timely and appropriate animal welfare messaging on our site, online and through all our interactions.

3)

Sustainability

The work to support animals that our Charity has done for the past 108 years will continue. It is important that we are equipped to deal with the animal welfare challenges that will arise in the 21st Century and beyond.

Our knowledge, experience and financial resource must be developed to ensure that the animals and our community continue to have our care and support as issues arise.

In June we were contacted by an owner of six adult dogs who had been the result of an accidental mating between two of her othe r dogs, a border collie and a husky. Staff visited the house and it was clear that the dogs’ physical and psy chological well-being was compromised and the own er was struggling to cope. All six were admitted to Oak Tree Farm, and the adult dogs who remained with the owner were neutered.

After significant veterinary care , tailored exercise, nutrition plan s and behavioural programmes they were ready to rehome. All found loving new forever homes through our rehoming programme.

Our sustainability priorities We will:

continue to work collaboratively with ADCH, NEWC and our charity partners to ensure best practice.

use our incorporated status to provide our Charity with a flexible approach and a secure future through income generation and good governance. improve our communications with stakeholders to ensure timely and effective messaging. ensure that decisions made within our Charity are evidence-based with a transparent decision making process.

beyond our boundaries and engage with local businesses and community organisations at the heart of our region.

move

all individuals within and without our organisation, providing clear and defined guidance and recognising that respect and teamwork are paramount to achieving our objectives.

value

our volunteering programme to ensure that our volunteers are well trained, supported and valued, helping us to extend our reach.

develop

support by demonstrating our impact on animal welfare in our region, offering value for money and maintaining our relevancy to our community.

inspire

our presence in our region by establishing points of presence within our community including: charity shops, event stands and local activities.

increase

How can you help?

1.

- By adopting an animal from Oak Tree you are giving them a second chance. All of our animals are fully health checked and assessed to make sure you find your perfect partner.

Make a donation or grant towards our work - You can make a real difference.

Every gift, no matter its size, helps us to carry out our vital work in the community and allows us to make sure animals are well cared for and find loving homes for life.

Become an Oak Tree volunteer - Our volunteers are amazing people! We have a wide range of roles within the Charity including animal care, photography, retail, events, gardening and tearoom to name but a few. There’s a role to suit every skill and time-commitment!

Support and share information about our work within your community - Join our social media pages and share the information about our work and our educational messages. The more people we reach the more animal lives we can change for the better.

Join our Lottery or take part in one of our Charity events - Whether you are a keen runner, cyclist, bungee jumper, dog walker or cake baker we will have a fundraising challenge for you. Our lottery allows you to help animals and with a top prize of £25,000 gives you the chance to win big too!

Visit Oak Tree Farm - We have a beautiful site nestled in the Eden Valley overlooking the Cumbrian Fells. Come and meet some of our animals, come to one of our fairs or tack sales or simply come to enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake in our dog friendly tearoom.

Adopt an animal

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Remember Oak Tree Animals’ Charity in your will

to help change animal’s lives.

- Leave a lasting legacy

For more details about our work and any of the ways you can help Oak Tree, please visit our website: www.oaktreeanimalscharity.org.uk or call 01228 560082

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