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THE RSPCA DANAHER ANIMAL HOME
ORIGINS
The RSPCA Danaher Animal Home is an independent charity which is affiliated to and works closely with the RSPCA but is entirely self funding. Initially the site was provided by Mr and Mrs Fred Danaher to the local RSPCA Branch and opened in 1990. This branch did not have the resources to maximise the benefits of the site and eventually a Trust (RSPCA Danaher Animal Home for Essex) was set up on the 15 December 1994 to regulate running the Home. On the 1 January 2006 the assets of the Trust were transferred to a company limited by guarantee – the RSPCA Danaher Animal Home which now owns the whole site and all the assets standing on it.
OBJECTIVES
The Home takes in unwanted domestic animals (principally dogs, cats and small domestic animals) from the general public in Essex (normally via the seven RSPCA Branches) and Animal Homes in London where demand always exceeds capacity. In addition it takes in animals from RSPCA Inspectors or the Police - these animals are normally the subject of cruelty cases and are often in a very poor condition – and strays, normally via Braintree District Council. On the rare occasions spare capacity arises animals (principally dogs) will be taken from other areas of the country where Homes can rarely meet demand. The Home then provides a temporary refuge for these animals, where they are assessed, treated by our vets, cared for and nursed by our staff and volunteers and then the vast majority are re-homed. We have a neutering policy for all our animals. There is also an approved euthanasia protocol for those few animals that cannot be given a reasonable quality of life.
DEVELOPMENTS
The Home has expanded over the years with the development of dog isolation kennels, facilities for small animals, a surgery room for vets to examine animals, a Reception block and car parking facilities. A new cattery opened in 2000 doubled capacity to 36 cats.
The re-homing kennel block was rebuilt and opened in August 2007 thanks principally to a large legacy from Mrs Danaher. The old Assessment Block, which was deteriorating rapidly, was demolished in 2008 and has been rebuilt but with 32 kennels in place of the current 16 giving the Home a total capacity of 70 dogs. The new kennels were completed in August 2008 will are not only of immense benefit to the dogs but also improve the staff working conditions.
Over the last few years on average around 450 dogs, 350 cats and around 350 other small domestic animals have been taken in every year. The number of dogs will increase significantly with the new kennels.
Contacts have been developed with both local community projects and schools, with the assistance of the local councils, and Social Services. Mencap also visit the site to use the Education Facility and to provide their students the opportunity to work with the animals alongside their own Tutors and the Home’s Animal Care Assistants.
FUNDING
The Home relies on income from Grants, re-homing, donations, legacies, the successful Braintree Charity Shop and funds raised by an active “Friends” organisation which last year contributed around £24,000. Grants have been received from the Jean Sainsbury Animal Trust, the Alice Noakes Trust, the Animal Defence League, Pets At Home and the RSPCA. Fund raising projects include a large annual fete, supermarket and other collections, a Charity Ball etc. In addition volunteers help with many tasks by assisting the dedicated and hard working staff with the animals, maintaining the facilities and working in the office and shop thus saving a considerable amount of money. Costs continue to increase however and new sources of funding are urgently needed. A regular giving scheme is now available which enables donors to commit to a fixed monthly amount of their choice and the Home can also benefit from gift aid if appropriate.
