Under-pressure Sleaford-area animal charity appeals for help

HART (Hollies Animal Rehoming Trust) is an independent, volunteer-run charity dedicated to finding permanent homes for unwanted or abandoned animals – big, small, furry, feathered, scaly, all are welcome.

This year, despite having had to temporarily suspend adoptions due to Covid-19 restrictions, it has rehomed six dogs, 24 cats, six rabbits, two guinea pigs, two snakes, a gerbil, and a hamster. It has also trapped, tested, neutered, and rehomed three feral cats and taken in a 21-year-old cat who stayed with the charity for three months until he passed away from old age.

Other work has included an ongoing effort at an industrial estate in Boston, which has required more traps, testing, and neutering, and also seen it take on a number of kittens (and a mum cat).

The charity says it has experienced a rise in demand for its rehoming services during the pandemic.

At the same time, though, its ability to raise money to fund its operation has been hampered by a lack of community events during lockdown.

“We are so thankful for our supporters, who use our Amazon wish list, or donate food and so on directly to us,” a spokesman for the charity said. “We have fundraising sales pages, advertise on the Sleaford selling and auction sites, are members of smile.amazon.co.uk and easyfundraising websites, where supporters can help us out at no cost to themselves.

“Our biggest worry will always be funding, and the bank account has begun to dwindle as more and more requests for help arrive. We have started a fundraiser to try and top up the bank account a little and have also asked if anyone could direct debit £1 a month, either by bank or PayPal – less than the cost of a cuppa, but so useful to us.”

You can find make a donation at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helpingHART