16
Jun 2024
Remembering a rescue: “She was just a bag of bones”
Animal rescue centres across the UK have seen a huge increase in the number of animals they are looking after since the pandemic. The impact of rising food, energy and vet bills has led to pets being neglected and abandoned. At the same time, the number of potential adopters has declined, often for the same reasons.
Locally, centres such as Knaresborough Exotic Rescue and Harrogate Cat Rescue have appealed for support as they reach capacity.
For the volunteers who work in these sanctuaries, the difference they make to the lives of the animals in their care is the reason they do their job. And some of these animals stay in their memories long after they’ve been rehomed.
As part of a new Stray Ferret series, we spoke to Helen Turner, trustee of The Yorkshire Rescue based in Harrogate, about two rescue dogs that she’ll never forget, and two animals currently waiting to find their forever families.
"We can make a difference"
Helen Turner and Gracie.
There are two dogs that particularly stick in my mind: Gracie and Tetra. Gracie was a white, probably American bulldog cross aged about two or three years old. She came to us from the Harrogate dog warden in the early part of last year, not long after I’d got involved with the charity. I was shocked because she was just a bag of bones. The sight of her ribs showing was really arresting for me. We didn’t know much about her background apart from that she had been neglected and had had a bad start in life. We suspected she had been used for breeding two or three times.
Gracie was initially taken home by our rescue co-ordinator who hand-fed her small meals eight times a day to build her up. Then she went to one of our fosterers in Harrogate who eventually adopted her.
It was so lovely watching her turn around. It was my first experience of thinking we can make a difference.
Huge impact on both animal and owner
Tetra.
Tetra was a young Staffie of about 18 months to two years old. She’d been passed around a couple of times, which is not unusual among dogs that come to us. She’d been kept in a cell and hadn’t been getting out. She’d had no exercise, no enrichment.
It was probably one of the first times I’ve been quite closely involved in trying to pick the right home for an animal. I met with a family in Burley in Wharfedale who wanted to adopt, and it was amazing just seeing how instantly happy and waggy Tetra was when she met them. Then going back a few weeks later to do a post-adoption check and seeing how perfectly at home Tetra was and how besotted the owners were with her.
The other reason why Tetra sticks in my mind is that she highlighted to me how things don’t always go to plan. Post-adoption, we arranged for Tetra to be neutered. It was the right thing to do for her but, unexpectedly, it made her catastrophically ill. It was very much a life and death situation, and that leads to a hard decision. Emergency vet bills create an unexpected financial hit on charities like us and that then impacts our ability to look after other animals in need. Tetra’s vet bill was over £2,000 and we’ve had to set up a Go Fund Me page to try and help towards the cost.
Thankfully, Tetra recovered and she has made an enormous difference to her family. Working at a rescue organisation, you don’t just get to see the impact that rehoming has on the animal itself. You also see the amazing effect it has on the new owners.
Can you provide a home?
Helen highlights two animals that are currently in particular need of rehoming from The Yorkshire Rescue.
Lottie, left, and Ivy.
Lottie
Lottie is a loving and loyal dog, who is well mannered, obedient and walks nicely on lead. She is around six years old and is a medium-sized cross breed. She’s crate trained and ok to be left for periods. Lottie has previously lived with children and with other dogs, and plays well with dogs she knows. However, she can be lead reactive toward other dogs and some people, and sadly the stress of being in kennels has worsened this for her. She’s about to move to a foster home in the hope that support and training will improve her reactivity.
Lottie is looking for an experienced adopter who is prepared to make several visits for careful introductions and to get to know her well. She may be best as an only dog in a child-free home.
Ivy and her kitten Bumblebee.
Ivy
Ivy was found as an undernourished pregnant stray. She is an absolutely delightful cat, loves a good tickle, and will make someone a lovely companion. Young mums can get overlooked with all those cute kittens out there and the centre is really keen to find Ivy her own forever home. She'll be spayed, chipped and vaccinated in the next few weeks, as will her kitten Bumblebee, and they'll then be ready to go to new homes.
The Yorkshire Rescue, formerly Moorview Rescue at Bewerley, is based in Harrogate with trustees, volunteers and fosterers spread across North and West Yorkshire. They don’t have a centre but can be contacted by email at hello@yorkshirerescue.org
0