FEATURE

It’s Christmas time, mistletoe and ‘whine’ - some of the boys and girls looking for a loving new home

What happens when there’s no room at the inn?

Animals in Need (AIN) is an exceptional rescue centre in a far from exceptional situation; like many other charities, the cost of living crisis has had a devastating impact, and it is struggling to make ends meet. As the festive season approaches, the Little Irchester charity is hoping for a Christmas miracle of its own, as Pulse’s Sammy Jones found out.

If it feels like animal rescues centres are always hands cupped asking for your support, it’s because they are; demand for their services has grown, and continues to grow, exponentially.

As they receive no official funding, the issue of how to move safely through these choppy financial waters becomes more of a concern.

They rely on their small army of fundraisers and volunteers to keep going, and Animals in Need is no exception.

But when people are struggling to put food on the table, or to meet spiralling energy costs, support is falling.

At the same time that donations are dwindling, bills are rising for the charity too. And so are the numbers of animals being brought in.

AIN is experiencing its toughest times since opening its doors in 1990. The outlook is bleak, and Animals in Need has had to turn animals away, something they never thought they’d have to do.

“It’s by far the worst it has ever been,” founder Roy Marriott told Pulse, “At 1.45am this morning someone messaged me wanting us to take their dog because the breeder they had bought it from wouldn’t take it back.

“We’re dealing with sentient beings and yet they are being given up like items of bric-a-brac because people take them on and then realise they can’t afford them.

“It’s devastating, because if we can’t accommodate them here, where do they go? What do desperate people do? It’s an

Animal Angels - AIN founder Roy and wife Annie

enormous worry and unfortunately we aren’t unique – rescue centres the country over are facing the same decisions on a daily basis.”

And you can rest assured that there are no fat salaries paid here - the Pine Farm site is owned by the charity, but only because Roy and wife Annie sold their homes, adding the proceeds to public money donated to purchase the land.

The dedicated duo don’t just work on site, they live there; animal welfare is a 24/7 business and you simply won’t find a couple more committed to the cause.

But the realities of falling support are impossible to ignore: “So far we’ve experienced a drop in donations of around 40%, and cash donations have fallen by half,” Annie said, “We invest every penny we receive into the welfare and care of the animals, and we were never in a position to

Animals in Need are currently caring for...

And in the Animals in Need wildlife hospital...

Hogging the limelight: One of the hedgehogs currently being cared for by AIN. Numbers of these countryside beauties are in sharp decline

42 hedgehogs 200 + pigeons 39 crows 10 blackbirds 10 collared doves 13 tortoises 2 bearded dragons 8 seagulls

2 magpies 2 jackdaws 1 mallard duck 1 tawny owl 1 barn owl 1 buzzard 2 red kites 1 woodpecker 2 moorhens 1 starling

have great cash reserves, so this crisis has hit us hard,” she said, “With energy price increases and the fall in donations, things are incredibly tough just now. No matter how difficult things get, we have 100s of beautiful animals to feed and care for. In many cases they have already been failed, and we will not let them down again, no matter how hard things get.”

But the constant worry of how to make ends meet is taking a toll.

“I go to bed worried about what will happen to the animals...I do feel like I’m failing and it is absolutely exhausting, both physically and mentally,” she admitted, “It’s awful having to turn away new arrivals, but we just do not have the space for all of them.”

Animals in Need currently has close to 60 dogs and 50 cats and kittens in its care – and it’s not only feline and canine mouths to feed. That would be a breeze.

58 dogs 47 cats & kittens 44 rabbits 16 guinea pigs 4 ponies 7 ferrets 4 gerbils 50 hens 18 cockerels 4 turkeys 9 ducks 35 sheep 7 pigs 5 goats

All creatures are equal at Animals in Need - and bunnies, piggies and ratties are among the current residents

“We have just had 13 tortoises come in,” Roy said, “People are simply saying they can’t afford to keep them any longer, and hand them to us.

“It’s nothing that I haven’t said before, but if you are in a position to welcome a new pet into your home, I implore you to please, please re-home from a rescue centre. Buying from a breeder increases the numbers of unwanted animals and lines the pockets of the sellers. If you engage with that, then you are part of the problem. Alternatively, re-homing from us makes you part of the solution. It also means that you give an animal a second chance at life, which is a rich reward.

“Responsible rescue centres like ours will ensure that you are well-matched with your new family member, and they will be neutered, ID chipped and vaccinated, so you don’t need to worry about that. The donation we ask for is much less that a breeder will charge, and that money will go back into helping other animals. It really is a no-brainer.

“We will survive because the commitment from everyone involved here is resolute, but we aren’t too proud to reach out to the community,” Roy added.

“We’re here for the animals in need, but now, more than ever, Animals in Need needs you to help us help them.” These beautiful little kittens and their mum were recently found dumped in Bozeat and taken to Animals in Need by a member of the public, who found them roaming around.

Happily, they were picked up before falling foul of the cold weather, hunger, traffic or any number of other nasty situations.

The charity has named the mum Marie, and the kittens, Nora and Oliver.

But behind the fluffy image is a reminder of the important work that Animals in Need does - they save lives, and bring hope where otherwise there would be none.

Thanks to the staff and volunteers at AIN, Nora, Oliver and Marie will now have a brighter future - which is simply meow-vellous. But for every kitty in their care, there is another in need...

How you can help...

Donate for Christmas

Why not make a charitable donation on behalf of friends and family this Christmas?

It’s better than shelling out on the usual choccies and smellies, means you don’t have to get messy with the Christmas wrapping paper and sellotape, and your donations will help raise some festive cheer.

Sponsor an animal

An easy present for a loved one that will make a real difference. Choose from Peanut the pig, puddy-tats Inky and Ed, Rocky the sheep, Hatton the pooch or one of the many others available.

For a sponsorship application form drop an email to admin@animals-inneed.org or if you are in the vicinity, pop to their reception.

Stuck for a stocking-filler?

Everyone needs a 2023 calendar, but few are as cute as the Animals in Need’s slim month to view wall calendar, featuring 12 of the charity’s charming rescues. Purchase in reception or online.

Donate a goodie bag or a Christmas box

Animals who don’t have a fur-ever home will be spending Christmas at the sanctuary, but staff will make sure they have a festive time of it – and you can help.

Once again, members of the public are being invited to make up a gift package for one of the animals in their care; you could make one for a cat, dog, rabbit, guinea pig, ferret, rat, chicken or bird.

Simple fill a shoe box (or similar) with food, treats, toys and a blanket or a towel. Your effort will make an animal feel warm, dry and happy, which is priceless.

Foster an animal

If you are in the position to offer your home to an animal on a foster basis, AIN will pay for all food, bedding and veterinary care. You simply give the gift of security and love.

You must live within an hour of

AIN and hold a driving licence – in case of the need for veterinary trips. Please note; the charity is unable to place foster animals in homes with young children.

Every penny really does help right now - even a standing order of £1 a week (or monthly) will help the charity. Thank you.

Set up a standing order

£1 a week (or monthly) will still help to keep bellies full. If everyone reading this article were able to do that, the difference it would make would be phenomenal.

If you would like to set up a standing order, the account you need is:

‘Animals in Need Northamptonshire.’ Sort Code: 08-90-73 Account No: 50304604

Volunteer

If you aren’t scared of mucking in (or perhaps that should read mucking out) and hard work, AIN can always use the support. Cleaning out pens and scrubbing out food bowls isn’t glamorous, but it is essential. Or perhaps you would like to help with dog walking, or have fab DIY skills.

You’ll go home knowing that you’ve made a real difference – and the team is fab.

> For more information visit animals-in-need.org or call on 01933 278080 FB: @AnimalsInNeedMaxicare

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Dr. Diana Rose Head of Family Law

NORTHAMPTON 29 Billing Road Northampton NN1 5DQ 01604 622101

KETTERING 18 Brooklands Court Kettering Venture Park Kettering NN15 6FD 01536 523434 bmtclaw.co.uk

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.

Is my prenuptial agreement binding?

If you are facing difficulties in your marriage and you have a prenuptial agreement, you may be curious to know just how binding the terms will be, especially if your life is now rather different to the one you envisaged when you planned to get married.

‘One of the main reasons people enter a prenuptial agreement is to protect wealth from outside the marriage, such as a business or an inheritance,’ says Diana Rose, solicitor at Borneo Martell Turner Coulston. ‘It can be helpful to obtain certainty in regard to the financial position should the marriage come to an end.’

It is important that anyone contemplating a divorce or who has concerns about an agreement has a lawyer examine their prenuptial agreement.

Will the family court uphold my prenuptial agreement? In England and Wales there is no law specifying that a prenuptial agreement is legally binding. However, after a landmark decision in 2010 the courts decided that they would give weight to prenuptial agreements under certain circumstances. This provides some reassurance that, if done correctly, an agreement is likely to be upheld in court.

Is my agreement valid? One of our specialist family lawyers can examine your prenuptial agreement and discuss with you the circumstances surrounding when the agreement was signed.

There are several factors which could be detrimental to the agreement being upheld, namely: • If the agreement was entered too close to the wedding day, as it is expected that the agreement should be signed at least three weeks before the big day - any closer and you run the risk that the court will think it was unfair. • If either you and/or your former spouse allege that you were put under duress to sign the agreement. • If either you or your former spouse did not make a full and frank disclosure of all assets and liabilities in your names, or that you hold jointly with any other person. • If the agreement was not in writing and independently witnessed. • If you and/or your spouse did not obtain independent legal advice on your entitlements.

Can I renegotiate our prenuptial agreement? People’s lives will change throughout their marriage, and no one can predict at the outset what curve balls you may be thrown. Sometimes a prenuptial agreement entered many years ago may no longer be an agreement you are content with.

You can renegotiate the terms of your prenuptial agreement during the course of your marriage. To do this, you will both be required to engage separate legal representatives and make a full and frank disclosure of your assets.

Can I apply to the court to disregard the prenuptial agreement? When you divorce, you can apply to the court for them to consider your finances if you cannot agree with your spouse on the terms of the settlement.

The court will first determine if the prenuptial agreement should be binding. If upholding your prenuptial agreement would be unfair due to unforeseen changes in your family life from the time it was entered, then your lawyer can mount a challenge in court regarding the enforceability of the agreement.

If the court is not satisfied that the agreement should be upheld, then it will make the financial orders it deems appropriate considering your family and financial circumstances.

How we can help If you are contemplating divorce, or simply want to have your prenuptial agreement reviewed, it is best to obtain early legal advice to understand your options. For further information, please contact Diana Rose in the family law team on 01604 622101 or email diana.rose@bmtclaw.co.uk. Borneo Martell Turner Coulston have divorce law specialists in both Northampton and Kettering offices.