Founded in April 2012, following the closure of two Animal Sanctuaries in Cheshire, Whippet Rescue UK Trust’s (“the Trust”) registered office is currently in Sandbach, Cheshire.
In 2016, the Trust’s Objects were transferred into a Company Limited by Guarantee that is registered as a Charity/not for profit organisation at Companies House.
The Trust’s Objects are not just restricted to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of Whippets and Lurchers throughout the UK, they extend to helping Equines and any breed of Dog in Cheshire and to the provision of Whippets as Therapy Dogs, particularly to patients in Nursing Homes, Hospices or Rehabilitation Centres and those retired or convalescing members of the Armed Forces and Police Services.
The Trust is proactive in ensuring that animal abuse is prevented and is a registered education provider. The Trust considers education to be an essential tool that enables Animal Advocates to identify root causes of animal abuse within society and is keen to develop educational programmes with other educational institutions that will help to reduce and eradicate the established cycle of intergenerational abuse that affects both humans and animals in today’s society and that of future generations.
The Scales of Justice in The Trust’s Logo reflects the fact that as well as protecting Animal Rights we are equally concerned with the protection of Human Rights. Our Volunteers benefit from a broad range of professional skills and experience, that includes those from both the Legal and Financial Sectors and we regularly provide Advocacy services to owners of pets and other animal welfare organisations. One of our most recent cases involved helping the Lessees of a Retirement Complex whose Managing Agents had attempted to introduce and enforce new Regulations that prevented them from keeping their Pets in their home The Trust successfully argued that the Regulations were outside of the scope of the Lease and in breach of the existing Clauses.
The Trust acknowledges evidence-based research that an owner’s enforced separation from their beloved pet is equivalent to suffering a family bereavement the emotional distress from which causes the acceleration of existing health conditions. Through our social care policies, we provide support to members of the public suffering from permanent or temporary sickness through the provision of volunteer dog walkers and mentors in order that they can retain their pets in their own homes and/or through the Trust’s Foster Carers ,who care for the pet on behalf of the owner and where possible, ensure that the owner’s contact with the pet is maintained by visiting them in hospitals or respite care homes and hospices.
The majority of the Trust’s Dogs who have found themselves in need of new homes are kept in either Foster Homes or Kennels that are close to our office where they are all personally assessed by our Re-homing Officer who then oversees their placements. The Trust endeavours to keep its re-homing polices and application process as relaxed as possible by treating each application individually. Our objective is to secure a permanent home for the Dog or other animal in question by ensuring that the Dog’s temperament is matched to that of the Adopters lifestyle and any other Pets and family members within the household in order to avoid the Dog becoming displaced again. This requires patience and commitment on both sides and the Trust recognises that we will never find the perfect Dog for an Adopter nor will we find the perfect home for one of our Dogs,
When Re-homing our Dogs, we aspire to the meaning of our Motto, Per Aspera Ad Astra; we take Dogs from disadvantaged circumstances and place them into the care of our Adopters, who we regard as the Stars. The Trust’s growth is entirely attributable to our reputation that our Volunteers have dedicated themselves to developing and regardless of how large or small the role that the Volunteer or an associate organisation has played in securing a permanent home for one of our Animals, we always let them know when they have found a Star.
The loss of The Trust’s kennels to residential developers on the 22nd December 2017 has resulted in the Trust having to manage a number of additional challenges. The consequences of these that has led to the Trust’s resources being placed under considerable stress that has resulted in the Trust having to limit its availability to carry out valuable work in the community. Whilst Land and Property are in short supply in Cheshire and attract premium prices, the Trust has recently found a suitable property the sale price for which the Trust considers to be both favourable and affordable. The property is in a prime location and benefits from both existing activities and future opportunities that provide for a diverse range of funding sources from which the Trust will be able to derive an income thus achieving a level of financial sustainability that will ensure its longevity and reduce its need to solely rely upon donations.
In addition to usual grants and donations. the Trust’s legal team have come up with an innovative solution in the form of a Venture Capital Agreement that provides individuals, corporate bodies, business partners with the opportunity to help the Trust realise the balance of purchase monies required to complete the purchase by way of private mortgages/loans secured against the property.
The Trust welcomes enquiries from both private individuals and body-corporates whose monetary advance will help the Trust to carry out and further develop its Objects for the benefit of the community; copies of the Venture Capital Agreement are available from the Trust. Applications are also welcomed from experienced Fundraisers who can launch and manage a campaign to help raise any balance of funds necessary for the Trust to secure the property or any other in lieu thereof.
Further Information about the foregoing and all enquiries concerning the Trust’s work and volunteering opportunities can be made to the Trust directly through the contact details provided below.
Per Aspera Ad Astra.
Kind Regards
Whippet Rescue UK Trust
[email protected]
Tel: 07789 260207 or 01270 767228
