AN animal rescue shelter that for nearly 40 years has helped abandoned, unwanted and mistreated animals in need of urgent care, says it needs financial help as it faces an uncertain future.

Worcestershire Animal Rescue Shelter, based in Newland near Malvern, has cared for animals since 1983 but has faced a tough year having to adapt in the pandemic.

The shelter has launched its emergency winter appeal, stressing with no government or local authority funding it can be quite difficult to raise funds to support the operations of the charity.

It costs more than £450 a day to keep the shelter running and provide the care all the animals in the shelter receive.

The site at Newland opened its doors and began rehoming animals in 2001. Since then it has found loving homes for more than 3,500 animals, with this number increasing year-on-year.

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Shelter manager, Claire Tregunna, said, “This (past) year has been an extremely difficult, as we’ve had to adapt new ways of working and prioritising the safety of our resident animals, members of staff, volunteers and visitors.

“With no emergency financial support from the government, we’ve had to raise money where we can to help keep our shelter open.

“Not being able to rehome animals in a normal way during a national lockdown has been tough.

“We had to cancel every physical fundraising event last year, including our two main dog shows, which normally bring in around £7,000 each year alone.

“This is why our emergency winter appeal is looking to raise vital funds as we face this uncertain future.

“All donations are appreciated, no matter how big or small.”

To make a donation to the winter appeal visit justgiving.com/campaign/wars-emergency-winter-appeal.