An animal shelter has said reducing its services is “not an option” as it faces spiralling running costs.
The Bristol Animal Rescue Centre has seen its energy bills jump by £17, 000 this year.
It has also observed an increase in the number of animals with serious medical or behavioural issues.
But it has vowed to find the resources to keep accepting rescues, keep its heating on and continue with its veterinary outreach work.
Jodie Hayward, animal home manager, said: “We want to preserve the pet welfare as high as we possibly can.
“We don’t wish to reduce the food we give the creatures, we don’t want to have to reduce the amount of staff we have to care for them. ”
BBC
Ms Hayward said the particular surge in animals requiring urgent medical treatment was probably down to owners being unable in order to pay for a vet.
She said many of the behavioural issues staff were seeing were likely due to the pandemic when animals were unable to get proper socialisation.
The charity hopes in order to expand the outreach vet clinics so fewer people are forced to give up their pets.
“We avoid want to reach the point where all of us say ‘right, we are at capacity, we all just can’t help any more’ because that’s not an option for us, ” Ms Hayward stated.
It is the similar picture at Shower Cats and Dogs Home, where power bills are expected to rise to £200, 000 a year once the energy price cap is lifted within April — an increase of almost 400%.
Chief executive Rachel Jones warned the energy bill would take a huge chunk out of the charity’s £2m annual budget – but finding the money has been “a challenge we will increase to”.
The particular centre has also noticed a sharp increase in the particular number of strays and animals arriving in need of urgent medical treatment.
Microsoft Jones mentioned: “Our advice is if you are struggling, please do reach out to your local rescue centre or animal charity : we will do our best to help you.
“Absolutely we want animals to remain in their own homes as often as possible.
“Do reach away. Don’t let it get to that worst case scenario. inch
Follow BBC West upon Facebook , Twitter plus Instagram . Send your story ideas to: [email protected]. co. uk
