On Thursday, January 16th, 2025, Naturewatch Foundation, a leading animal welfare charity, announced the opening of applications for their 2025 Pet Rescue Grant. The grant is intended to aid UK animal rescues in their efforts to support dogs, cats, and rabbits who have been impacted by the country’s illegal and low-welfare pet trade. This year, the grant will open for applications on Friday, January 24th.
The Pet Rescue Grant, which can provide up to £10,000 in funding, aims to assist rescuers in rescuing and rehabilitating animals who have been exploited for profit. This includes animals who have been affected by practices such as illegal puppy farming, unlicensed backyard breeding, and irresponsible pet selling. In addition, for the first time, a mini-grant of up to £1,000 will be available for unincorporated charities and voluntary organizations that are working to improve animal welfare in their local community.
In 2024, the Pet Rescue Grant provided critical support to organizations such as Bliss Cavalier Rescue, Axholme Cat Rescue, and Rabbit Residence Rescue. These organizations used the funding to aid dogs, cats, and rabbits who had been impacted by harmful breeding trends and the illegal pet trade.
Natale Harney, Campaign Manager at Naturewatch Foundation, highlighted the importance of the Pet Rescue Grant, stating, “The Pet Rescue Grant is about more than just funding; it’s about giving exploited animals a second chance. As a small charity ourselves, we are proud to support the incredible work of rescues across the UK, especially during these challenging times when the demand for animal welfare services is higher than ever.”
Naturewatch Foundation is dedicated to advocating for stronger pet welfare protections and investigating public tip-offs about the illegal pet trade in the UK. Now in its second year, the Pet Rescue Grant is opening at a time when many UK rescue organizations are facing increased demand for their services due to a combination of factors, including the cost-of-living crisis, the Covid-19 puppy boom, and the XL bully ban.
Interested rescue organizations can visit naturewatch.org/petrescuegrant or email petrescuegrant@naturewatch.org for more information. Applications will open on January 24th, 2025, and close on February 21st, 2025.
ENDS
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
