Freshfield Animal Rescue is facing their most difficult year to date.
For more than 50 years the rescue centre in Formby has been protecting unwanted, abandoned, and abused animals. Now with mounting pressures of the cost of living crisis, the centre has said an increasing number of people are handing over their pets because they can no longer afford to look after them.
Debbie Hughes the Fundraising and Communications officer for the rescue said they are facing a "triple threat" of dwindling donations, costs going up, and the number of animals needing their help. However, despite the tough finical landscape, Debbie said the rescue is "not going anywhere."
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Speaking to the ECHO she said: "The number of animals who need our help has quadrupled in the last 18 months. We used to get ten calls a day now it is around forty. We are facing the legacy of lockdown pets where many people benefited from having an animal in their home.
"Times have changed and now the cost of living has gone up so much, even though people meant well they just can't afford to keep them anymore and we are aware of how difficult it is for people now."
Debbie said that the cost of living crisis has created a shortfall with "everything going up" donations going down. In 2021 the rescue spent £14,000 on animal food and in 2022 the same amount of food cost £21,000.
She said: "That is before you factor in the cost of our energy bills which have increased dramatically. If the animals are sick or a bit older we have to keep them warm and it all adds up.
"It has been getting harder for us to keep the amount of animals we have and we don't want to turn away someone who might be in need. It is a challenge but we have to keep going."
To combat the crisis the rescue created the Assisted Adoption Scheme which helps people who adopt animals who might not be able to afford the hidden cost of owning a pet. The scheme assists with paying vet bills, food, and upkeep.
Debbie said: "We will support them if they need help and is specific to the animal and is taken on a case-by-case basis. It is a great way to get older animals into forever homes.
"We would much rather have a pet with a loving family than stay in kennels and if paying some expenses is all it takes then we are more than willing to help.
"Our biggest priority in 2023 is to keep doing what we do so well and break down the barriers for finding the longer-term cats and dogs finding homes. We have created a lovely new adoption hub in where animals can meet their new owner.
"We also want to make people aware that they should microchip and neuter their animals. We are not closing and there is a lot of potential for the future. We are there for people as much as animals and we are not going anywhere."
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