What are the opening hours?

Monday 11am - 3pm Tuesday 11am - 3pm Thursday 11am - 3pm Friday 11am - 3pm Saturday 11am - 3pm Sunday 11am - 3pm

RSPCA West Hatch Animal Centre

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RSPCA West Hatch Animal Centre

West Hatch RSPCA rehabilitates and rehomes animals from RSPCA Inspectors. This page is to promote the work of West Hatch RSPCA Centre.

We promote animals looking for homes, fundraising events, and raise awareness of what we do. If you have a cruelty complaint or have found an animal in need of urgent help please phone our dedicated line on 0300 1234 999. they are open daily from 8am - 7.30pm .If you have a question please email us [email protected].

16/12/2024

Staff will still be on site and working hard every day of the year to care for the animals, but we have some additional dates over the festive period where we will be closed to the public and not booking appointments, to allow the animals and staff to enjoy some of the festivities!

15/12/2024

The season of giving is in full swing at the centre! 🤩

We are very grateful to have received an amazing amount of donations over the last 2 weeks. Whether you've ordered for us via our Amazon wishlist, done your own shopping spree or collected from your community, every donation of every size is so valued. Thank you!

There's still time to get a present under the tree for our animals too! If you'd like to get involved and have your gift given out on Christmas Day to a rescue animal, drop it to the centre by December 23rd. 🎄

14/12/2024

Another big success story this year would have to be that of Miles & Fabio, our lovely pigs! 🐷

These two came from a large case of over 30 pigs, kept in unsuitable conditions. On arrival at West Hatch we knew we had a lot of work to do, both were not as friendly as we initially thought, both were overweight and as a result were unsteady on their feet, which is always a major worry for these larger animals.

However, a pigs love for food, a warm bed and a field to destroy never disappoints! With a little coercion, the pair started to trust us a bit more, our staff made sure to make everything as positive as possible to build up a good relationship with them.

Finally, after the pigs had learned to use the field, and the diet started to kick in, we started to see some progress with their health. They were more active, eating well and even allowed some back scratches every once in a while!

Miles & Fabio stole our hearts, and they did the exact same to their new adopters! The adopter reached out to us after their own pig was left on his own after the loss of his bonded friend, the adopter knew he needed some new companions.

Now Miles & Fabio are all settled in their new home, we want to say thank you to their adopter, they will be spoiled rotten! ❤

13/12/2024

Say hello to Darla, our fun loving Akita crossbreed. Darla loves to gallop around our fields with a toy in her mouth, checking in occasionally to say hi, and then off she goes again! She would just love a home where her mind and body could be kept active, and because she is smaller than a pure Akita, she is the perfect size for cuddles on the sofa! What more could you ask for? Click here for more info 👉https://tinyurl.com/5fr7r93e

12/12/2024

One of our stand-out stories of the year is none other than Beetle, now known as Bertie.

Rescued as a kitten suffering from severe flu, Bertie's eye was found to be ulcerated and sadly couldn't be saved. He underwent surgery to remove the damaged eye and prevent further complications and made a wonderful recovery! Bertie made quick work of having all the staff and and volunteers wrapped around his finger, pandering to his every demand whilst he adjusted to life with one eye.
Understandably, he was reserved very quickly and found himself the MOST fantastic home. He has his own cardboard office, a cat-door through the wall, and family who couldn't adore him any more if they tried!

We're all so delighted for Bertie and his new family and can't wait to see him grow up in a new home, quite the dramatic change from the tiny sickly boy he was just a few months ago. ❤

09/12/2024

Why foster?

✅ All costs are covered by the centre including food, veterinary care and any supplies you might need.

✅ No worrying about holiday care, your foster cat/s can stay at the centre any time you are away.

✅ It's perfect for having the company of a pet on a short-term basis if you can't commit to ownership or want to have some practice first.

✅ It's a great time of year to start fostering, the colder weather means you won't need to worry about open windows and doors.

✅ Some cats and kittens can be fostered in homes with other pets, so if you have pets already don't rule yourself out!

So what are you waiting for? Get stuck in!: http://bit.ly/3ZiV5iF

08/12/2024

They're dreaming of the BEST Christmas, and they need your help!

Every year we try and make the animals at the centre feel extra special during Christmas, and this year we'd love to give them all a gift of their very own. We have lots of animals in our care at any one time, so we're going to need some help!

We're asking you to grab a shoe-box, fill it with some goodies from the lists below, wrap it up in your favourite festive paper and stop by the centre to place it under the tree. Alternatively, pack your festive shoebox and get it in the post to us! You can make a box for a specific species, or go for a mixed species box that can be spread around the animals! Please write on your box what animal/s your box is for.

Here's what our furry friends are hoping for:
🐶 Dog Wishlist:
- Any treats except rawhide - eg. training treats, dental sticks, bonios, gravy bones.
- Nylabones
- Kongs
- Antlers
- Tins of hotdogs
- Cosy blankets
(*no squeaky toys please*)

🐱 Cat Wishlist:
- Small mice toys with feathers
- Feathery wand toys
- Lick-e-lix treats
- Catnip spray
- Spring toys
- Crinkly ball toys

🐰 Small Animals Wishlist:
- Natural rabbit toys
- Healthy rabbit and guinea-pig treats
- Healthy rodent treats
- Natural rabbit chews
- Newspapers

07/12/2024

**Centre Closed** Due to the severe weather today, we have closed the centre to concentrate on keeping the staff and animals safe. Please do not come unless we have spoken with you to agree this. Stay safe x

06/12/2024

Our Christmas Tree in reception is looking healthily adorned with some early gifts. Otis has popped over to check it out and will be telling all his kennel-mates to get excited for their first Christmas!

If you'd like to put together a shoebox of Christmas Goodies, check out our recent posts with the animals' wishlists!

05/12/2024

The next story on our list is that of our gorgeous ferrets, Coco, Nutty & Thunder!

Coco, Nutty & Thunder were brought into our centre from cramped and dirty living conditions, found to be the 3 surviving ferrets at the property. The trio were in a poor condition and inspectors were worried that they could've been infected with canine distemper, which is fatal for many species.

To keep our staff and other animals on-site safe, we had to quarantine the ferrets and only selective staff with no contact with the kennel blocks could work with them for fear of contamination. The only thing we could do was medicate them and wait out the quarantine period.

Our fears slowly faded over the coming weeks as they grew stronger, the shine came back to their coats and their little personalities started to come through. We were delighted when we were told to lift the quarantine, and that first playtime in the corridor was a breath of fresh air for all!

Everything was going great for the trio, they were ready to be rehomed until disaster struck. We noticed Nutty had begun to limp on one of his hind legs, and after x-rays were done, he was found to have a major fracture of his right femur bone.

The next few weeks were hard, Nutty was on rest until his leg had healed, which meant limited contact with his brothers, so our staff worked tirelessly to keep him entertained during the healing process.

Due to the diligent work of our staff and Nutty's absolute determination to heal, on a re-examination, the healing process was going incredibly well. The trio were soon playing, war dancing and snuggled up together again.

In the end, we knew a special home was needed. These 3 young ferrets had learned how to be a ferret in our care, and they needed a taste of the good life! A lovely previous adopter was looking for a new group to join her cohort, and to say they are spoiled in their new home would be an understatement!

Their new house consists of a large heated shed, dressed up to the nines in toys, beds, tunnels. They have an attached run area as well as a beautiful ferret proofed garden to explore!

Thank you so much to our adopter, they will be so much fun for many years to come
❤

03/12/2024

Sophie is currently spending time with our lovely fosterers, and it's pretty clear that she is enjoying having a good sleep! She wanted to remind us however that she cannot stay there forever, and is still looking for a permanent home.
So, if you would like a medium sized lap dog, who is good on the lead, and who just LOVES to be with her humans as much as possible, then she might just be your dream girl. What are you waiting for? Just click here for more info - https://t.ly/sEFlD

02/12/2024

This December we thought it would be nice to share some stand-out stories from the year, and what better place to start than R***r. 😻

⚠Image of open wound, some viewers may find this upsetting.

R***r came to us as after a member of the public reported him as a stray with a large neck wound, on arrival our vet confirmed it was a burst abscess, likely from an infected cat bite. Entire male cats are significantly more likely to suffer from abscesses due to their natural tendency to roam in search of a mate, which is why neutering is so important!
R***r was understandably overwhelmed and uncomfortable, even with pain relief, and didn't want much to do with anyone. We begun the process of spending time with him every day. Even though R***r ignored us initially, we persevered, we were sure there would be a breakthrough! As expected, he then started to show interest in treats and would eat them in front of us, which was a segway into unlocking his confidence! He then learned that laps are GREAT and he loves a cuddle, which was a really wonderful development.

Once his wound finished healing after lots of treatment and surgeries to repair the skin, we set out to find R***r a home. He was quickly spotted by someone who had previously adopted from us but sadly lost their cat earlier in the year. We knew straight away it was a great match for R***r, so off he went to his new home!

He's settled in extremely well and is clearly very grateful to be in his new home, just look how comfy he is! We're so pleased R***r, now Ernie, had the happy ending he deserved and can't thank his new Dad enough for giving him such a perfect new home. ❤

30/11/2024

Ooh, that's the spot!

This soppy cat is Laurel, who is a real lover boy! He's been available for adoption for a little while, with his friend Acer, and hasn't had a single enquiry. We can't believe these gorgeous boys haven't had any interest, Laurel is desperate for someone to love him as much as he loves them 💔

Acer and Laurel are a delightful pair, adopt them here: http://bit.ly/414dO2I

29/11/2024

Forget the Black Friday Deals, check out our gorgeous monochrome animals instead!

These 6 beauties are all on the lookout for a new home, and have been long overlooked. Sadly, there is still a stigma surrounding black animals that means they do take longer to find a new home. Some believe there to be bad luck associated with black cats, and others think that black fur doesn't photograph well but we think every animal is equally deserving a new home, and those superstitions just aren't true! 🖤

For more information on any of the animals in the photos, take a look here:http://bit.ly/4g2SaAd

28/11/2024

Lizzy is a big, cuddly, goofy, loving girl, who is hoping someone will scoop her up before Christmas. Lizzy came to us very underweight and wary of new people. During her time with us she has learnt to trust people, and has shown she is intelligent and sensitive. Lizzy loves to do zoomies around our field, and then happily clambers onto a lap for a huge cuddle (she doesn't realise she is rather large to be a lap dog)
So, if you love a big dog who gives even bigger cuddles what are you waiting for?
Click here to find out more - https://tinyurl.com/5c38n8k7

26/11/2024

Can you help our animals feel the magic of Christmas this year?

We are hoping to collect as many donations of presents as possible, all around our Christmas tree, to give the animals at West Hatch a truly magical Christmas.
Could you help?
Grab a shoe-box, fill it with some goodies from the lists below, wrap it up in your favourite festive paper and stop by the centre to place it under the tree. Alternatively, pack your festive shoebox and get it in the post to us! You can make a box for a specific species, or go for a mixed species box that can be spread around the animals! Please write on your box what animal/s your box is for.

Here's what our furry friends are hoping for:
🐶 Dog Wishlist:
- Any treats except rawhide - eg. training treats, dental sticks, bonios, gravy bones.
- Nylabones
- Kongs
- Antlers
- Tins of hotdogs
- Cosy blankets
(*no squeaky toys please*)

🐱 Cat Wishlist:
- Small mice toys with feathers
- Feathery wand toys
- Lick-e-lix treats
- Catnip spray
- Spring toys
- Crinkly ball toys

🐰 Small Animals Wishlist:
- Natural rabbit toys
- Healthy rabbit and guinea-pig treats
- Healthy rodent treats
- Natural rabbit chews
- Newspapers

24/11/2024

"Who is this handsome little chap?" I hear you scream, well, it is our one and only Green Bean! 🤩

This young man has been through a lot in his little life, but we are so pleased to see him progressing everyday, thanks to the help of one of our lovely fosterers.

Green Bean is currently looking to share his life with 1 or more female guinea pigs, in a home environment where he can have plenty of space to thrive in.

Do you think you have the means to adopt the beans? Fill in a form today! - https://bit.ly/494seSz

24/11/2024

Weather alert - Please do not try to come to the centre today unless we have spoken to you this morning to agree it, as the roads are getting more and more flooded. We are trying to concentrate on keeping the animals warm and dry until the storm blows over.
Many thanks, and keep safe x

Address

West Hatch RSPCA
Taunton
TA35RT

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 3pm
Tuesday	11am - 3pm
Thursday	11am - 3pm
Friday	11am - 3pm
Saturday	11am - 3pm
Sunday	11am - 3pm

Website

http://www.rspca.org.uk/local/west-hatch-animal-centre/

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Videos

Ooh, that's the spot! This soppy cat is Laurel, who is a real lover boy! He's been available for adoption for a little while, with his friend Acer, and hasn't had a single enquiry. We can't believe these gorgeous boys haven't had any interest, Laurel is desperate for someone to love him as much as he loves them 💔 Acer and Laurel are a delightful pair, adopt them here: http://bit.ly/414dO2I

Breakfast ASMR from the paddocks 😋 Fabio and Miles enjoyed an apple this morning, a treat to cheer them up whilst they wait patiently to find a home of their own. Who wouldn't want these charming boys!? Welcome Fabio and Miles to your home; https://bit.ly/3Uid6La

Lola

How can Lola still be looking for a home? If you can't adopt, please share our gorgeous Pumpkin picking girl - https://t.ly/xQXvr 🧡

Foster dog looking for a home

Worried a big dog can't do all the things with you that a little dog could? Our gorgeous Dogue de Bordeaux girl Lola is currently on a camping trip with her foster family, while she waits for her forever home, and she LOVES it! She is also pretty good at keeping her humans nice and warm! For more info on how wonderful she is, click here now -https://t.ly/xQXvr

And the award for best hair goes to.... Benny! 🐰 This strikingly handsome boy is on the lookout for a new home where he can continue to build on his confidence and show off his inquisitive personality! Beautiful Benny has been lucky enough to spend some time in a foster home and showed himself to be a big foodie, so we know that snacks will be the way to his heart and a great way to build a bond with him. If you're looking for a young male rabbit to bond with a female, why not Benny?! Apply now: https://bit.ly/403oGNO

Coco, Nutty and Thunder are a delightful trio of male ferrets who are sure to bring endless joy and fun to a new home! Sadly they've been searching for a home for quite some time, but are yet to have any luck... 💔 Whether you're a first time or experienced owner looking for an established group, or looking to add to an existing group of neutered ferrets, could these guys be the ones for you? Find out now!: https://bit.ly/3zSs6Zb

What time is it? It's binkying time! 😎🐰 It's been less than a month since our lovely pair of rabbits Petra & Rigby when to their amazing new adopter, and as you may see, life just couldn't be any better! We hope you enjoy this compilation of the best binky's so far. When Petra & Rigby came into our care, life was very scary, especially for little Rigby. He was a very scared young man that was terrified of his pen, the noises of our centre and the staff that worked with him. We made the decision at the centre to bond the two together, in the hopes that Petra would be able to lead the way and encourage Rigby to see that life isn't so bad. And we saw the most amazing change in Rigby's behaviour, he started coming up to staff, taking food from our hands, we couldn't believe it! When it came to rehoming Petra & Rigby, we knew they had been through a lot. We needed a home for them with experienced rabbit adopters who could provide them with the time, space and love they needed to really thrive. We were so lucky the most amazing adopters applied, and for the everyone, it was love at first sight. As you can see in the video provided by Petra & Rigby's adopters, they couldn't be happier. The pair can be seen binkying like crazy, which is a rabbit's way of saying they are content and happy with life! Thank you so much to the adopters, and we hope they have so much fun with this gorgeous pair ❤ #rescuerabbit #rspca #rescuestory #adoptionstory #adoptdontshop

Thanks for spending International Cat Day with us, we hope everyone has enjoyed the day as much as Ruger! A big softie, Ruger is looking for a new home where he can spend as much of this time on a lap as he wants. ♥️ Initially found as a stray, Ruger had a large wound on his neck that needed urgent attention. He has spent the last few months slowly healing and recovering from surgery to close the wound, and is now fit and ready to have another chance. If this sweet boy could win you over, adopt him now; https://tinyurl.com/4y64svfj

What better way to #CelebrateCats on International Cat Day than to share this gorgeous update with you. Pickles (long-hair) has struggled with interacting with people and prefers to keep her distance. To help her feel more comfortable whilst waiting for a home she has been living with one of our amazing fosterers over the past few months, who has put in so much time and effort to help Pickles feel safe. Recently, Pickles had a breakthrough and decided that although people still aren't her favourite, other cats are rather nice! Here she is making friends with her fosterer's resident cat! Pickles has done remarkably well, with immense thanks to her fosterer, and will be going off to her new home today, how fitting!

*STILL LOOKING FOR A HOME* What a catch! Tinks has started to learn tricks in the hopes that it will help her find a new home. Here she is showing off her amazing pom-pom catching skills! Sweet Tinks is very playful, friendly and affectionate and can't understand why nobody has snapped her up yet 💔 Offer her a home here: http://bit.ly/3W9rV2s

Have you been enjoying the weather? Otis certainly has! 🌞 Otis came to us from a multiple animal household, with cats and other rabbits that were kept in unsuitable conditions. As a result, Otis has taken a long time to trust us, and while he is still a little wary, there is a wonderful little personality starting to shine through! Otis would benefit from a quiet home, where he could really come out of his shell, with a neutered female rabbit for company that he could bond with for life. Thinking you may have just found the perfect companion for you and your female rabbit? Find Otis on rspca.org.uk/findapet - https://bit.ly/3K8Qze9 #rescuerabbit #adoptme #rescuingsaveslives

Can you believe that Tamara & Vivi are still looking for a home? They were telling us that they are just shocked! ⚡️ These two bundles of fun came to us after the circumstances of the previous owner changed and they could no longer keep them. However, they remain full of energy every day and always come to greet our staff at the door when it's time to clean! Tamara & Vivi have previously lived in a home with children and would be able to live with other ferrets in a home. Do you think you have space in your home for some new "business" partners? Find Tamara & Vivi online at rspca.org.uk/findapet - https://bit.ly/3WpTXsj #adoptme #rescuingsaveslives #rescueferrets #adoptdontshop

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About our Centre

Here at the RSPCA West Hatch Animal Centre, most of our animals have been rescued from neglect and bad treatment by their previous owners.

We look after dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and many other types of small domestic animals - at any one time we could be caring for over 150 animals.We spend weeks, sometimes months, rehabilitating them and preparing them for a new life and a second chance.

It costs the RSPCA over £1000 a day to run the West Hatch Animal Centre. The RSPCA relies entirely on kind donations from people like you.

The RSPCA West Hatch Animal Centre takes in animals from RSPCA Inspectors only. The demand for spaces for the animals they bring to us is ever increasing and we are therefore unable to accept unwanted pets or stray animals from members of the public. We are able to provide information on centres that can re-home animals for the public on request.