An animal charity in Watford said it can better support unexpected rescue pets thanks to a grant of more than £3,000 it received.

The National Animal Welfare Trust was awarded £3,517 as part of the Cash for Charity campaign run last year by the Watford Observer's parent company’s charitable arm The Gannett Foundation.

The charity's manager, Jackie de Friez, said the money has helped to rebuild a cattery that has now also been able to home other animals that joined the rescue centre suddenly.

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Ms Friez said: “The money has made a massive difference because we have been able to rebuild the cattery that wasn’t fit for humans or animals.

“But we can use it for other animals too, not just cats.

“We had a dog come into us and she was fine, no problems at all.

“We took her to the vet to be neutered and the vet said she was pregnant.

“Weeks later we had to take her to the vets because she hadn’t gone into labour. She ended up having to have an emergency caesarean. Four puppies died and two lived.

“The mother and puppies were then taken into a foster home, but they had to come back to have their vaccinations and chips.

“We were able to use on of the pens in the cattery. If we didn’t have that space it could have been dangerous for the puppies.

“With the new space the mum had a lovely area with an outside run away from all the noise.”

Now the mother and the puppy have all been moved into their new home.

Ms Friez described the grant as a “godsend” and recalled a time when the new building would have made a difference to the animals.

“We never know what will come through the door,” she said.

“And you need areas on site that the animals can move around in. It makes such a difference to have that multi-use building.

“Three years ago, we had a tortoise that was dumped at the gate.

“If we had had somewhere like the training room that we do now, it means we could have put the tortoise in there were the rabbit pen is.”

The flexibility of the new building is something that the charity thinks might be more important as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.

She said: “Demand for rescue centres have gone through the roof.

“Every month is busier. People’s circumstances have changed a lot and we are seeing lots of big dogs being brought in who haven’t had any training and need lots of medical support.

“We can’t help them all and we have had to create a waiting list. We haven’t had that in seven years.”

Ms Friez firmly believes the charity only exists because of the local support it receives and the grants.

The charity is trying to make the premisses as accessible to as many people as possible by creating a bigger car park.

Ms Friez said: “I know a car park is a bit boring, but it will help many more people meet the animals.”

To donate to the car park fund, visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/nawtcarpark 

If you would like to apply for a grant, visit https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/20607834.watford-observer-cash-charity-can-help-good-cause/. 

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