10/07/2025
📢 *IMPORTANT NOTICE* 📢
After an extremely unpleasant incident outside the Plumstead Animal Hospital vet shop this week, we would like to share the following information:
1. Plumstead Animal Hospital is NOT a drop off point for stray animals. This is the vet's place of business and it is completely separate from the shelter. It is Duncan's private vet practice and his business helps support the shelter financially. Members of the public cannot bring stray animals in (injured or otherwise) and expect the vet to see to them immediately and without the possibility of remuneration, especially when he is busy treating the pets of his paying clients.
Duncan cares for all the PlumPets animals and wherever he can, he helps with animals from other rescues who do not have vets. Expecting him, as a solo vet, to treat every injured stray is just not realistic. Unfortunately we have to refer people to SPCA and other welfare organizations in these cases.
2. It is extremely unfair to expect PlumPets to still take in strays. We DO NOT have the capacity or finances to take on more animals. Paulette and Duncan are both in their 60s and taking on the long-term responsibility of new animals is just not responsible rescue work. We also cannot add more financial costs that we cannot cover.
We closed the shelter kennels to new dogs in May 2023, although continuing with our commitment to home and care for all the remaining dogs in our care. This decision has NOT changed. Sadly many of the same dogs we had in 2023 are still waiting for their forever homes 2 years later 💔
How we currently help:
1. We scan strays for a microchip, contact owners if there is a microchip or tag, and use our socials to advertise found cats and dogs. Many strays are reunited this way.
2. We assist with collars, blankets, kennels, food, etc. and help the community and other welfares with any excess donations and extras we have.
3.We assist in rehoming many dogs and cats when we have the capacity to do this, without taking in the animals at the shelter.
We will continue to help in as many ways as we can, as part of our rescue work.
The cattery section remains open and is filled with many adult cats who have nowhere else to go. Paulette hopes to turn the house into an animal sanctuary eventually. Running the shelter for the remaining dogs and cats continues to create huge monthly expenses, which is why we regularly appeal to the public for assistance.
Paulette had extensive foot surgery a few months ago and she is still recovering from that. She is having to do night duty because we have no funds left to pay extra staff, when she should not be on her feet for extended periods yet. She is really struggling and having people come to the vet shop, trying to force stray dogs on the shelter, demanding vet services and attacking her for not taking on a dog, is completely unfair and uncalled for. The amount of sacrifice in terms of time, energy and finances that she and Duncan have put in over the years is something that the public need to appreciate, not exploit or expect more from them than they can give 🙏💜
