Review of 2012
Custom
dictates that each year we
produce a report on the year-that-was for an annual audit to the
Charity Commission. It always reveals such fascinating reminders of
the achievements that we made that it deserves a greater audience
than just a handful of strangers. This year’s review will likely
prove no different as I put digit to keyboard to produce my 6th
Annual Report for the branch.
December
2012 marked my 4th
year in post as Branch Manager, a year that has been typified by one
thing – a relentless onslaught of work. There has been no seasonal
lulls, no chance to take a breather, it has simply been full throttle
all year round and we are all pretty weary as a result.
 |
| Stanley pup was abandoned in a box in freezing temperatures. |
Christmas
did not bring the much longed for ‘down time’; instead it brought
more admissions than ever as puppies and kittens were rescued by the
inspectorate.
 |
| 12 week old Noel was found Xmas Eve dumped in an industrial bin. |
Our
records of achievements illustrate just how and why we have been so
busy in 2012:
2012 Animal Rehoming Activity
Animals Taken in = 469
Cats = 302 (2011 = 208)
Dogs = 66 (2011 = 45)
Rabbits = 88 (2011 = 19)
Misc = 19 (2011 = 1)
468
of the animals were RSPCA generated
Animals Rehomed = 411
Cats = 276 (2011 =
195)
Dogs = 53 (2011 = 37)
Rabbits = 63 (2011 = 39)
Misc = 19 (2011 = 4)
Pre-Adoption Home Visits = 406
Animals
Returned Post-Adoption = 12
Animals Died = 12
Animals Euthanased = 23
For
the first time in an Annual Report I am sharing some statistics that
typically attract a swell of critics but the fact is the national
RSPCA rescues from the most pitiful and disturbing quarters and as a
result we do not choose who we take in and it is this aspect that
makes us so unique. What often comes with this is a complexity of
needs to meet that are both physical and mental, such as Blue.
Blue
came into our care in October 2012 after recovering from repeated
violent assaults by his owner, including a vicious assault to his
skull with a hammer. Blue bears the scars both mentally and
physically of his ordeal but we have worked hard to rehabilitate him
and now we await the offer of a home for him. It’s a long time
coming but we will keep holding on for as long as he can cope with
kennel life.
Euthanasia
is the most distressing part of the work our branch does but it is
not done because an animal hasn’t found a home, but because their
welfare is compromised. This could be physical or mental suffering,
which we believe we are duty bound to alleviate.
In
my opinion the RSPCA is an organisation to whom the whole of society
is indebted to, for without them we would have nothing comparable.
The RSPCA does something unique, that no other charity or
organisation in this country does: it recues and seeks to
rehabilitate the most damaged animals in society. The RSPCA seeks
justice on behalf of these voiceless victims of cruelty and wins 98%
the cases it takes to court.
Let’s
stop for a moment and consider this latter fact. We live in a country
governed by statutory laws designed to protect us all and to ensure
civil obedience. Upholding the law is not the responsibility of a
charity, yet no one else has the funds or expertise to do this. Like
us, or hate us, there would be few, if any, statutory animal welfare
laws or justice for abused animals if it weren’t for the RSPCA –
a non-government funded charity.
Our
primary role as a branch, the RSPCA Manchester and Salford Branch (an
independent charity in itself), is to assist the local inspectorate
by taking in, caring for and, wherever possible, rehoming these
rescued animals. Our rehoming stats for 2012 have bucked the trend
nationwide – most have seen a decline or remained the same, but as
you can see we have seen a dramatic rise in adoptions.
The
secret of our success? Well, no doubt our strong online presences,
our excellent reputation for animal welfare and intimate knowledge of
our animals all contribute, but I’m a firm believer in people
power. We are only as strong as we are because of the people who
stand behind us, supporting, willing us to carry on. It is to our
team of 10 staff, 100+ volunteers and countless supporters that I say
we owe our success to, as without them we are nothing.
2012 Animal Welfare Activity
Owned Animals Received Free
Microchipping = 403
Animals Attended
Free Pet Health Clinics =
203
Animals Welfare Neutered =
70
The
other aspect of our work is promoting animal welfare in the
community. 2012 saw us move our resources toward neutering and
microchipping as opposed to free pet health clinics, because reducing
the stray and unwanted animal population seems ever more pressing.
-----------------
Income
generation has obviously been of high priority in order to fund these
additional activities. Our 3rd
shop, in Didsbury, opened in July 2011 to help with these costs but
it has not performed quite as pleasingly as we’d hoped for due to
an increase in competition in the area. Nonetheless the shop has
achieved a profit of £8k in its first full year of trading, but we
know it can do more and hope that in 2013 it will raise in excess of
£10k for the animals.
In
November 2012 we have embarked on our biggest ambitious income
generation project to date by signing a lease on a new shop in city
centre Manchester. It is due to open mid-January and bucks the trend
of traditional style charity shops and is uniquely designed in a
boutique, chic style. We think acquisition of stock is going to be
our biggest challenge here but we are really hopeful that there is
plenty of money to be made.
Our
other two shops, in Chorlton and Urmston, continue to serve us and
the community proudly and have become a reliable source of income for
our work thanks to the dedication of the staff teams and volunteers.
Between them they raised a profit in excess of £55k in 2012, which
makes a massive contribution toward the £300k+ it costs each year to
fund our work.
---------------
Looking
ahead to 2013 and there’s one major landmark on the horizon. In
December our branch will be 50th
years old. We have a number of very special events planned to mark
our half century including a Vintage Garden Party on Saturday 18th
May, Imperial War Museum Zipwire Challenge on Saturday 13th
October and a Purrfect
Birthday Party
evening fundraiser on Saturday 23rd
November. More details will be announced on our website shortly. We
always need donations for our raffles and auctions so please let us
know if you can help.
------------------
If
you would like to help our work we are currently appealing for:
Volunteers
for our Urmston, Didsbury and Northern Quarter shops.
Cat
and kitten foster carers.
Cat
home visitors for Sth Mcr area, next course 23rd
Feb.
Stock
donations for our shops. We can help you run a collection day at work
so you can make a really big difference!
posted by RSPCA Manchester and Salford Branch @ Sunday, January 06, 2013
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