“For the last 22 years, Rain Rescue has grown into an amazing charity saving lives in and around South Yorkshire, one of the top 10 cruelty hotspots in the UK, where around 400 cats and dogs are helped to find a new safe place and home.
Rain began with Steve and I helping dogs in stray kennels, destined to be put to sleep when they had done no wrong. We couldn’t bare to see this needless destruction so we started to help where we could. Driving hundreds of them up and down the country into safe rescue places. Then back ‘up north’, to save more.
We raised funds using social media and through the 3 shops that we had. Where YOU, our supporters, funders, and donors have loyally stayed with us through many tough years. We still can’t believe the many messages we receive, from people who have shared our journey, it’s truly uplifting.
You’ve seen thousands of photos of the dogs and cats passing through Rain’s gates, and watched as we opened our vet room (with the help of #PetsFoundation ) and started helping to neuter so many homeless cats.
In 2023, we were lucky enough to secure a grant from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. They wanted to ensure Rain Rescue survived, long into the future. Part of this grant, was to allow myself and Steve, to retire, and to recruit someone who would be able to lead Rain Rescue forward, taking on the many challenges being faced in dog and cat welfare today as many owners experience financial hardships. Times are so hard in the sector, that donations have dropped dramatically whilst requests for help increased as have the neglectful conditions for the pets coming into care. The cost to help them has spiralled.
As I start to retire, I would like to thank all of those who have shared our journey over the years – no matter what part you played – if you helped pets, pet owners or our team, you are our kind of people. THANK YOU to all who have ever been part of our Rain Rescue Team and volunteers, who have been such a nice group of people to work alongside, to our Corporate Sponsors who always help when needed, and with a special THANK YOU to Rain’s amazing Trustees who have helped to make all of this possible and have been so supportive.
I can’t finish without saying a big THANK YOU to the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (#ADCH), I have met the most kind and wonderful people who will always help anyone. Sharing their knowledge that many may have spent hours to collate, but knowing that we are ‘STRONGER TOGETHER’ gives it away freely. Just being there as the shoulder to cry through tough times.
Finally, I cannot leave without saying an extra special THANK YOU to the Management and Board of #Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, for seeing and believing in the work that small charities do. It’s an amazing foresight of them. For recognising just how needed these smaller teams are as each one of them, helps many pets and their owners and so many, like Rain Rescue, are struggling under the many heavy pressures of today’s crisis. I truly hope the partnership between Rain Rescue and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home will continue for many years to come.
For now, I would like to say to everyone, THANK YOU for being kind and supportive. Steve and I will always be around somewhere as a part of Rain Rescue and are so proud of the work we have all achieved together. We can watch from a distance, as it continues to grow and be a lifeline to homeless animals.
I’m very excited to give a BIG WELCOME and introduce you to our new Chief Exec, Trisha Spargo. Trisha is eager to start this next journey with Rain Rescue, bringing to Rain so much experience from within the sector, having managed other large animal centres, and sharing Rain Rescue’s passion for helping vulnerable animals find their new homes. I hope you will all join me in giving Trisha the support that she needs to help pets in crisis and carry on the wonderful legacy that is RAIN – forever Rescuing Animals In Need.
Thank you for everything, for your continued support to help pets. We will always need YOU.”
Jacquie & Steve Neilson