RSPCA Hollingworth Lake Animal Centre: latest news & how to show your support

It is now just over two years since The RSPCA Rochdale & District branch moved 'lock, stock and barrel' from Redcross Street into their new home at Hollingworth Lake Animal Centre.

The building underwent major rebuilding and refurbishment to become a modern purpose built facility for the care of abandoned and cruelly treated domestic animals and wildlife casualties.

Since January 2023, they have taken in over 500 domestic animals, the majority of which they have been able to rehome and over 300 wildlife casualties temporarily kept in their holding facility before release or transfer.

The RSPCA team have recently come through an unprecedented period of cruelty and abandonment of pets, particularly cats and kittens. They receive a huge amount of visitors and calls asking for help and advice regarding unwanted pets; sometimes this is the owner's last resort if their circumstances have changed, such as moving into a care home and the RSPCA do all they can to help.

However, sometimes there are heartbreaking cases of cruel abandonment, such as the six kittens recently dumped in a wheelie bin who were trying to eat dirty nappies to survive. An RSPCA staff member and a volunteer rescued them and took them to the safety of the animal centre. Following rehabilitation, fortunately, all have been rehomed.

VOLUNTEERING

As well as the RSPCA staff, there are wonderful volunteers who help with the animals behind the scenes, on reception, in the onsite gift shop or as trustees. The animal centre also offer opportunities to students on placement or on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. Please ask at reception if you are interested in volunteering.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

The Rochdale Branch is currently facing a funding crisis with sharp increases in running costs. You can help by:

• Becoming a Friend of the Animal Centre

• Following the Facebook page "RSPCA Hollingworth Lake Animal Centre" for updates

• Visiting the onsite gift shop

• Hiring the Lake Room, the onsite meeting room

• Visiting a Rochdale Branch charity shop

• Leaving a gift in your will. Charity no 232257

• Donating via the GoFundMe page

For more information on how you can support the branch, please contact the animal centre on 01706 861897 or send an email to: rec.rspcarochdale@btconnect.com