At RAIN, we are incredibly lucky to have supporters who go above and beyond to help the cats and dogs in our care. One of those special supporters is Dawn Brown, who has been using her creativity and crochet skills to make beautiful handmade items to raise vital funds for rescue animals.

Over the last eight months, Dawn has lovingly created an amazing 550 handmade items, including crochet keyrings and other unique gifts that will be available to buy at our Open Day and in our RAIN shops.

Each item has been carefully handmade with love, time and dedication, with every sale helping to support the rescued animals who come through our doors.

Handmade fundraising with a purpose

Dawn has always had a passion for animals and wanted to use her creativity to make a difference. After discovering RAIN online, she was inspired by the work we do rescuing and caring for cats and dogs in need.

When we asked Dawn why she makes these wonderful creations, she said:

“I have always been passionate about all animals and their wellbeing. Every animal deserves love, care and kindness. Animals are a blessing and bring more to the lives of people than can ever be expressed in words.

I have always been creative and wanted to put that creativity to use and help animals in need. I found RAIN online and was in awe of the wonderful work they do. Every person who works and volunteers at RAIN is truly amazing, and I wanted to do what I could to help raise some much needed funds for the precious and now safe animals in their care.

I have thoroughly enjoyed making every item knowing that I am helping rescue animals start their journey to a new and better life.”

Thank you, Dawn, for supporting RAIN

We cannot thank Dawn enough for the incredible time, care and kindness she has put into creating these handmade treasures. Every stitch represents compassion and every item sold will help us continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in need.

Fundraising support like Dawn’s helps provide essential care, including food, veterinary treatment, comfort and a safe place for animals while they wait for their new beginnings.

Whether you create handmade items, organise a fundraiser, donate your skills or simply support our work, every act of kindness makes a difference.

Thank you, Dawn, for helping rescue animals through your amazing crochet creations. 🧡

Keep an eye out for Dawn’s handmade items at upcoming RAIN events, our shops and fundraising opportunities.

Want to support RAIN?
There are lots of ways you can help rescue animals — from fundraising and volunteering to buying gifts from our shops. Every bit of support helps us continue our mission of Rescuing Animals In Need. 🐾

We are excited to announce our new partnership with Donald Cooke Ltd, who are helping us make the adoption journey even more special for our adopters here at RAIN.

At RAIN, we believe every rescue animal deserves the absolute best start in their new home. Thanks to the generous support of Donald Cooke Ltd, every dog adopted from RAIN will now leave with a special adoption gift pack, filled with treats and goodies to help them settle into family life.

Each dog adoption pack will include:

• A delicious Fruity Friends Garden Bites treat
• A tasty K9 Chew Co treat pack
• A 20% off voucher for Cookes PET Supplies, helping adopters save on those essential pet supplies

Cat adopters will also benefit from the partnership, receiving a 20% off voucher for Cookes PET Supplies to help them purchase everything they need to welcome their new feline friend home.

A Partnership Built on a Shared Love of Rescue

Donald Cooke Ltd’s support comes from a genuine passion for animal welfare and helping rescue pets find loving homes.

Andrew Cooke, Director of Donald Cooke Ltd, said:

“We are a local business, with our four Cookes Natural Pet Stores based across South Yorkshire. Animal charities are always working hard to provide the best for the animals in their care, and being able to support them in a small way is something we’re really pleased to do.”

He also shared why supporting rescue charities is so important to him personally:

“My dogs have all come from rescues. The service they offer to help those animals is vital. There is always a limit to what any person or business can do to support, but the amazing work charities seem to achieve on very small budgets is incredible value for money.”

Supporting Pets Beyond Their Time at RAIN

Partnerships like this play a vital role in helping us continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming homeless animals. Whether it’s providing enrichment, supporting adopters, or helping pets settle into their new homes, every act of kindness makes a real difference.

We are incredibly grateful to Donald Cooke Ltd for choosing to support RAIN and our rescue animals. Their generosity helps us provide an even better adoption experience for both our supporters and the pets beginning their next chapter.

Our Centre Manager, Sophie, said:

“We’re incredibly grateful to Donald Cooke Ltd for supporting our adopters and helping make the journey home even more special. These thoughtful gift packs are a lovely way to welcome our rescue dogs into their new families, and we’re so pleased our cat adopters can also benefit from the Cooke Supplies voucher.”

Capturing Special Adoption Moments

As part of their support, Donald Cooke Ltd have also kindly sponsored two new adoption photo banners for RAIN.

The banners feature the message:

“Finding Forever Homes at RAIN Rescue”

They will be used when adopters collect their new pet, creating a special photo opportunity to capture the moment they officially become part of their new family.

These photos will celebrate the happy endings made possible through rescue and showcase the incredible bond between adopters and their new companions.

Thank You, Donald Cooke Ltd

From everyone at RAIN—our team, volunteers, adopters and, most importantly, the animals in our care—thank you to Donald Cooke Ltd for your kindness, generosity and belief in what we do.

Your partnership helps us continue rescuing animals in need and supporting the families who give them the loving homes they deserve.

Together, we’re helping more pets and people through every storm.

We recently had to make an emergency dash to the out-of-hours vets with one of our little rescue dogs.

Motley, our beautiful five-year-old Pomeranian, suddenly became very poorly.

She wasn’t quite herself. Normally bright, playful and always ready for cuddles, Motley had become quiet and withdrawn. She developed an upset tummy and diarrhoea, and with the recent extreme temperatures, we knew dehydration could quickly become a serious concern.

Our team monitored her closely while keeping her hydrated and arranging for her to be seen by our vets.

At Rain Rescue, every animal in our care is treated as though they are one of our own. When they need us, we act.

A Worrying Turn for the Worse

Our incredible veterinary nurse, Tash, stayed behind after work to keep a close eye on Motley.

As the evening progressed, Motley deteriorated.

When Tash checked on her later that night, she discovered a large amount of blood in Motley’s diarrhoea. She was lethargic, clearly uncomfortable and completely unlike the happy little dog we all know and love.

There was only one option.

An emergency trip to the out-of-hours vets.

Putting Motley’s Welfare First

Emergency veterinary care is never inexpensive, but when one of our animals needs urgent treatment, we don’t stop to ask whether we can afford it.

We simply do what’s right.

Tash stayed with Motley until after midnight, making sure she wasn’t alone while she received the care she desperately needed.

The vets diagnosed haemorrhagic diarrhoea, a serious condition that requires prompt treatment. Motley was given pain relief and anti-sickness injections before returning home with additional pain medication and Promax to help settle her gastrointestinal tract.

She is now back with us, resting comfortably and being closely monitored by our team as we do everything we can to help her recover.

Every Emergency Comes at a Cost

We’re incredibly relieved that Motley is safe.

But emergency veterinary treatment comes with significant, unexpected costs.

As a charity, we never want money to be the reason an animal doesn’t receive the care they need. Every time a dog or cat arrives needing urgent treatment, we want to be able to say “yes” without hesitation.

That’s only possible because of kind-hearted supporters like you.

Can You Help Motley Today?

If you’re able to make a donation towards Motley’s emergency veterinary treatment, we’d be so grateful.

Every gift, no matter the size, helps cover the cost of her care and ensures we can continue providing lifesaving treatment to every animal that needs us.

Thank you for standing beside Motley, Tash and every rescue animal who relies on Rain Rescue when they need us most. Together, you make these second chances possible.

Six tiny kittens have recently arrived at RAIN, and their story is one we won’t soon forget.

Found as strays in a garden, they were brought into our care frightened, vulnerable and completely unfamiliar with human kindness. All they had ever known was life on the streets.

At an age when kittens should be playing, exploring and purring contentedly, these little ones were hiding away, cowering and trembling with fear.

A Shocking Discovery

As our cattery team began to assess the kittens, it quickly became clear that they had been suffering for some time.

They were absolutely riddled with fleas and in such poor condition that they were already anaemic from the severity of the infestation. They were also dangerously underweight and weak, having struggled to survive alone at such a young age.

The flea infestation was so severe that their first bath turned the water red with blood.

While fleas are often thought of as a minor nuisance, they can be incredibly dangerous for young animals. Severe infestations can cause anaemia, painful skin infections and, in some cases, even prove fatal.

It’s heartbreaking to think about what these kittens had already endured in their short lives.

The Road to Recovery

Thankfully, these six kittens are now safe.

Although they remain cautious and unsure of people, we are beginning to see the first encouraging signs of progress. Slowly but surely, they are starting to come out of their shells. Small moments of curiosity, trust and even playfulness are beginning to replace fear.

At RAIN, we are committed to giving them everything they need to recover and thrive. That includes urgent flea and worm treatment, vaccinations, microchipping, neutering when they are old enough, nutritious food, a safe environment and the patient, consistent care needed to help them learn that people can be trusted.

We Can’t Do It Without You

Every animal that comes through our doors deserves a chance to heal, but providing that care comes at a cost.

With so many cats and dogs already relying on RAIN, unexpected arrivals like these kittens place additional pressure on our limited resources. Our team works tirelessly to balance veterinary treatment, food, shelter and rehabilitation for every animal in our care.

We will always step up for animals in need, just as we have for these six kittens. But we cannot do it alone.

Help Give Them the Future They Deserve

Your support can help transform fear into safety, suffering into comfort and six difficult beginnings into bright, healthy futures.

By making a donation today, you’ll not only help these kittens receive the care they desperately need, but you’ll also help ensure that RAIN can continue to be there for every other cat and dog who needs us.

Please consider making a donation today and helping us give these kittens — and so many others — the second chance they deserve.

Thank you for helping RAIN be there when it matters most.

Opening More Doors to Second Chances

Saturday 18th July | 11am – 3pm
RAIN Rescue, Bracken Hill Lane, Misson, Doncaster, DN10 6FA

Something exciting is happening at RAIN Rescue, and we’d love you to celebrate with us.

Since 2002, RAIN Rescue has been a lifeline for dogs and cats with nowhere else to turn. Together with our incredible supporters, we’ve spent more than 20 years rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals who deserve a second chance.

Now we’re taking the next step in that journey.

We’re proud to be opening the first phase of our new rescue centre – a major milestone that will help us support even more animals in need.

This first phase includes our new on-site veterinary facility, café and shop. More than just buildings, these spaces will create a welcoming community hub where animal lovers can come together, support rescue animals and be part of something special.

And this is only the beginning.

Over the next five years, we have exciting plans to continue developing the site, helping us rescue more dogs and cats, provide better care and create even more happy endings.

Come and Celebrate With Us

Join us for a day of community, celebration and support for rescue animals.

You’ll be among the first to explore our new facilities, meet the team behind RAIN Rescue and learn more about our vision for the future.

Activities on the day include:

• Official ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Fun dog show (weather permitting)
• Pet portraits
• Raffles and prizes
• A variety of stalls to browse and enjoy
• Additional activities and surprises throughout the day

More Than a New Building

This event isn’t just about opening doors to a new site.

It’s about celebrating the people who have made it possible.

Our supporters, adopters, volunteers, fundraisers and local community have been at the heart of RAIN’s work since 2002. This new centre has been built with the future in mind – creating a place where people can come together to support rescue animals and help transform lives.

Every visit, every purchase in the shop, every coffee bought in the café and every pound raised will help support dogs and cats who need us most.

Why This Matters

Every year, dogs and cats arrive at RAIN needing safety, care and a fresh start.

This new site will help us do more. More rescues. More rehabilitation. More second chances.

The opening of our veterinary facility, café and shop is just the first step in a wider vision for the site. With further development planned over the next five years, we’re building a future that will allow us to help even more animals in need.

By joining us on the day, you’re not simply celebrating a new chapter for RAIN – you’re helping shape it.

Join Us

Whether you’ve supported RAIN for years or are discovering us for the first time, we’d love to welcome you.

Come and explore the new centre, meet fellow animal lovers and celebrate what we can achieve when a community comes together for dogs and cats in need.

Together, we’re creating more opportunities for rescue animals to find the happy endings they deserve.

We can’t wait to see you there.

Important Information

Dogs are welcome to attend. However, their welfare will always come first.

We will be monitoring temperatures closely and may adjust some dog-related activities if weather conditions become too warm. Updates will be shared on our website and social media channels ahead of the event, including any advice about bringing dogs along.

Thank you for helping us keep all animals safe and comfortable throughout the day.

RAIN is proud to be partnering with Cats Protection to offer affordable cat neutering at our onsite veterinary clinic. This vital service helps reduce unwanted litters, supports responsible pet ownership, and improves the long-term health and welfare of cats in our community.

Appointments are limited, so early booking is essential.

Neutering costs

We aim to keep neutering accessible for those who need it most:

😺 Stray or feral cats – FREE
😺 Owned cats – £10 with a Cats Protection voucher (applied for through RAIN)

This includes both neutering and microchipping, helping to keep cats safe, healthy and identifiable for life.

Eligibility:
Cat owners must be receiving means-tested benefits or have a household income of £25,000 or under.

Why neutering your cat is so important

Neutering is one of the most effective ways to prevent unwanted litters and reduce the number of cats entering rescue centres each year. It helps reduce suffering and ensures fewer cats and kittens are born into uncertain or unsafe situations.

Welfare benefits

• Prevents unwanted litters
• Reduces the number of cats entering rescue centres
• Helps reduce stray and abandoned cat populations
• Supports better overall cat welfare in the wider community

By choosing to neuter your cat, you are helping to prevent unnecessary suffering and making a real difference to cats in need.

How to book

To book an appointment or request more information, please contact our team:

📞 Call: 01709 247777
📧 Email: enquiries.vets@rainrescue.co.uk

Please include your phone number in your email, and a member of our team will be in touch.

Working together for better cat welfare

Through our partnership with the Cats Protection vouchers, RAIN is helping make neutering more accessible and reducing the number of unwanted cats and kittens.

Every neutering appointment helps create a safer, healthier future for cats everywhere.

Real stories from the people helping rescue dogs and cats 

At RAIN, our volunteers are the heartbeat of everything we do. From caring for dogs and cats in our kennels and cattery, to fostering animals in their own homes, to supporting behind-the-scenes operations — every volunteer plays a vital role in helping rescue animals recover and find loving forever homes.

Our volunteer team is made up of people from all walks of life, united by a shared love of animals and a desire to make a difference. These are just a few of their stories.

Maxine – Finding purpose after retirement through animal rescue volunteering

Maxine joined Rain Rescue after retiring from a 30-year career. Looking for purpose, connection, and something meaningful to give back to, she found volunteering with animals to be the perfect next chapter.

“My favourite part of volunteering is being part of an amazing team of caring people and seeing the cats and dogs leave the centre for their forever homes. It’s heartbreaking to see some of them arrive lost, scared and poorly, through no fault of their own. It’s wonderful to watch them grow in confidence, learn to trust again and start their next chapter with a loving family.”

One of Maxine’s most memorable moments was caring for two tiny kittens, Summer and Autumn, who arrived abandoned in a carrier. With patience and care, they blossomed into confident kittens and went on to find loving homes.

Volunteering has given Maxine lasting friendships and a renewed sense of purpose.

•  Fulfilling
• Bittersweet
• Selfless

Her advice to anyone thinking about volunteering:
“Stop thinking about it and just do it – you won’t be disappointed.”

Jackie – The joy of seeing rescue animals find forever homes

Jackie describes her volunteer journey as “amazing,” working alongside dedicated staff and other volunteers at Rain Rescue.Volunteering brings her great happiness, especially when the animals she has helped care for are adopted into loving homes.

“It is very rewarding, especially when so many have come to us from heartbreaking situations.”

For Jackie, every adoption represents hope, healing, and a fresh start.

Sue – Rediscovering purpose through cat rescue volunteering and fostering

After a 43-year career, Sue was looking for a new sense of purpose. With a lifelong love of animals — especially cats — she joined Rain Rescue as a volunteer.

She supports the cattery team by helping ensure cats are safe, cared for, and given time to relax and build confidence while they wait for their forever homes.

Sue finds it incredibly rewarding to watch frightened and uncertain cats slowly develop into confident, affectionate personalities.

She has also recently taken on her first fostering experience, caring for a mother cat and her five kittens:

“It has been an interesting and very rewarding experience. They are so cute and funny, all with individual personalities. I have learnt so much!”

Sue describes volunteering as:
Dedicated, caring, and supportive

Her message to anyone thinking about getting involved:
“Go for it — it’s so rewarding, and you are helping the community, the animals in their care, and finding their new ‘pawfect’ homes.”

Gemma & Sharon – Helping dogs thrive behind the scenes

Not all heroes are in the spotlight every day, but their impact is just as powerful.

Kennel supervisor Emma says it best:

“Gemma and Sharon go above and beyond every day, helping to make everything run smoothly while giving the dogs the love, attention, and support they deserve.”

Their consistency and care help create a stable, nurturing environment where rescue dogs can recover and rebuild trust.

Why volunteering with animal rescue matters

Volunteers at RAIN help transform the lives of abandoned, abused, and neglected animals. Every walk, every clean kennel, every cuddle, every foster placement contributes to a bigger journey — from rescue to recovery to rehoming. Without volunteers, this life-changing work simply wouldn’t be possible.

Join our volunteer team at Rain Rescue

Want to make a real difference to rescue dogs and cats?

Whether you can spare a few hours a week or want to get more involved, we’d love to welcome you.

• Help care for animals in our rescue centre
• Support rehoming and rehabilitation
• Foster and change a life from home

👉 Get involved today

Every year during Volunteers’ Week, we take the opportunity to celebrate the incredible people who make our lifesaving work possible. At RAIN, our volunteers and foster carers are at the heart of everything we do. Their compassion, dedication and generosity help transform the lives of vulnerable dogs and cats across South Yorkshire and beyond.

As we mark Volunteers’ Week 2026, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who gives their time to help animals in need.

The Impact Volunteers Have on Rescue Dogs and Cats

Behind every successful rescue story is a team of passionate volunteers working tirelessly to support animals through every stage of their journey.

Whether they’re helping with fundraising, transporting animals, supporting events, capturing professional photographs that help rescue dogs and cats find homes, or helping behind the scenes, volunteers enable Rain Rescue to reach more animals and provide the care they desperately need.

Thanks to the dedication of our supporters, volunteers and foster carers, in 2025 alone we:

• Helped 315 dogs and cats find loving new homes
• Provided vital veterinary treatment to 1,595 animals
• Gave countless dogs and cats a second chance at happiness, health and security

These numbers represent far more than statistics. They represent frightened animals receiving the medical care they desperately need, neglected pets learning to trust again, and families welcoming a new best friend into their lives.

These numbers represent more than statistics. They represent frightened animals receiving lifesaving medical care, neglected pets learning to trust again, and families welcoming a new best friend into their lives.

Every volunteer hour contributes directly to making these outcomes possible.

How Foster Carers Help Rescue Dogs and Cats

Foster carers are a special type of volunteer who open their homes and hearts to animals in need.

Many dogs and cats arrive at Rain Rescue feeling scared, confused or recovering from illness, injury or neglect. A foster home provides them with a safe, loving environment where they can begin to heal.

Giving Animals a Safe Place to Recover

Some animals need time to recover after veterinary treatment, while others simply need a calm environment away from the stress of kennel life. Foster carers provide comfort, stability and routine during this important stage of rehabilitation.

Creating Space for More Rescues

Every animal placed in foster care frees up valuable rescue space, allowing Rain Rescue to help even more dogs and cats in urgent need.

Without foster carers, many animals would have fewer opportunities to receive the individual attention and care they deserve.

Curious about what fostering is really like? Meet some of our amazing Rain Rescue dog foster carers in this short video and hear their stories first-hand. Watch our fostering video here

Why Volunteers Matter More Than Ever

Animal rescue is a team effort. Rising costs, increasing numbers of animals needing support and growing demand for veterinary care mean that volunteers play a more important role than ever before.

Their kindness helps us stretch every donation further and maximise our impact for animals.

From walking dogs and transporting pets to fundraising and fostering, volunteers make a lasting difference every single day.

Join the Rain Rescue Family

This Volunteers’ Week, we’re celebrating every person who has given their time, skills and compassion to help rescue dogs and cats.

If you’ve ever considered volunteering or fostering, there’s never been a better time to get involved.

By joining our volunteer community, you could help provide lifesaving care, support animals on their journey to a new home, and be part of countless happy endings.

Together, we can continue giving vulnerable dogs and cats the second chance they deserve.

Thank you to every Rain Rescue volunteer and foster carer. Your support changes lives.

June is Adopt-a-Cat Month — a time dedicated to celebrating cats in need of loving homes and raising awareness about the importance of rescue and adoption.

At RAIN, we see every day just how life-changing adoption can be — not only for the cats who find safety and love, but also for the families who welcome them home.

Why rescuing a cat is so important

Across the UK, countless cats are still waiting for their chance at a better life. Many arrive in rescue through no fault of their own — abandoned, found as strays, or surrendered when circumstances change.

By choosing to adopt, you are:

•  Giving a cat a second chance at life
• Opening space in rescue for another cat in need
• Supporting a more compassionate and ethical way to welcome a pet into your home
• Often adopting a cat who is already health-checked, vaccinated, and microchipped

Every adoption truly makes a difference — far beyond just one animal.

The reality of rescue cats

One of the biggest misconceptions is that rescue cats are “damaged” or “difficult”.

In truth, most are simply waiting for stability, patience, and love.

At RAIN, we care for cats of all personalities:

• Confident, affectionate lap cats
• Shy cats who need time to build trust
• Playful kittens full of energy
• Older cats looking for a quiet, peaceful home

There is a perfect match for almost every home — it’s just about finding the right one.

Why adopt from RAIN?

When you adopt from RAIN, you’re not just taking home a cat — you’re becoming part of a rescue journey built on care, rehabilitation, and hope.

We work closely with every cat to understand their personality, needs, and ideal home so we can make the best possible match.

Our team is here to support both you and your new cat every step of the way.

Support Cats in RAINS’ Care

Even if you’re not ready to adopt, you can still make a huge difference:

•  Donate to help us care for cats in need
• Share our cats looking for homes
• Support fostering and volunteering
• Help us reach more potential adopters

Every bit of support helps us continue saving lives.

View our cats looking for their forever homes

There are cats waiting right now for someone to choose them. This Adopt-a-Cat Month 2026, we encourage you to consider adopting a rescue cat and supporting animal welfare in your local community.

Elsie’s story began in the saddest way.

She was found tied to a lamppost, alone and abandoned, with no explanation why. She must have been so confused and frightened, waiting for someone who never came back. Thankfully, some kind people found her and took her straight to the vets, worried for her safety and wellbeing.

The vets then got in touch with us at, and of course, we said yes to bringing Elsie into our care.

We don’t know much about Elsie’s past life, or why she was abandoned, but despite everything she had been through, Elsie showed us just how gentle and loving she truly was. Beneath her worried eyes was the softest, sweetest girl who simply wanted kindness and comfort.

During her five weeks with us at RAIN, Elsie began to truly shine. She loved going on long walks with the kennel team — it quickly became her favourite time of day. That, or settling in for cuddles and belly rubs, which she absolutely adored.

Emma, our kennel supervisor, said: “Elsie could happily take belly rubs all day, a true big softie.”

Slowly, Elsie grew in confidence. The nervous girl who first arrived started to relax, trust, and enjoy life again. Watching her transformation was something truly special for everyone who met her.

Then, after five weeks in our care, Elsie’s forever people came along.

And finally, the girl who had once been abandoned and left behind found exactly where she belonged.

Her new family told us, “We just wanted to let you know how much she is loved and cared for already.”

We want to say a heartfelt thank you to Elsie’s adopters for choosing to adopt her and giving her the second chance she so deeply deserves. Thank you for seeing her, choosing her, and giving her the life she was always meant to have.

From abandoned and unwanted, to absolutely adored — this is why we do what we do.

Happy Tail, Elsie 🧡

Ruby Lost the Person She Loved Most

Ruby’s story begins with loss, but it doesn’t end there.

After the heartbreaking death of her owner, Ruby suddenly lost the person she loved and trusted most in the world. Everything familiar disappeared overnight, and this gentle little dog found herself entering rescue at nearly nine years old.

But even in the sadness of that beginning, something hopeful is taking shape: the chance for Ruby’s story to become one of healing, kindness, and second chances.

Ruby is a nearly 9-year-old Jackapom who came into our care after her owner sadly passed away. From the moment she arrived, it was clear she had been deeply loved. She is gentle, affectionate, and completely used to home life. She carries that quiet trust in people that only comes from years of being cherished.

Now, it is our turn to honour that love by giving Ruby the future she deserves.

Ruby’s Weight Is Seriously Affecting Her Health

Ruby’s story is not one of blame or judgement. She was clearly deeply loved, and her weight gain likely happened slowly through comfort, routine, and affection. What matters now is helping her move forward with kindness, healing, and the chance to feel well again.

When Ruby arrived in our care, she weighed 11.5kg with a Body Condition Score of over 9/9. For a dog her size, her ideal weight is around 5kg, with a healthy Body Condition Score of 4–5/9.

This means Ruby is not just slightly overweight. Her obesity is already placing dangerous strain on her joints, heart, breathing, and overall quality of life. Every step she takes is harder than it should be.

Research from the University of Liverpool found that overweight dogs can live up to 2.5 years less on average than dogs at a healthy weight. Those missing years are not just numbers. They are walks in the sunshine, peaceful naps, gentle cuddles, and precious time feeling comfortable in her own body again.

Ruby Has Already Started Her Weight Loss Journey

Since coming into our care, Ruby has already made an incredible start.

With a carefully managed diet plan, gentle exercise, and ongoing monitoring, she has already lost 1kg and now weighs 10.5kg. While that may sound small, it is a huge milestone for Ruby and proof that her future can change.

Part of Ruby’s recovery includes a specialist prescription weight loss food recommended by our veterinary team. This food is essential to help her lose weight safely and steadily while protecting her health.

Unfortunately, prescription veterinary diets are far more expensive than standard dog food, creating another ongoing cost in Ruby’s rehabilitation journey.

Ruby Also Urgently Needs Dental Surgery

Alongside her weight loss treatment, Ruby urgently needs extensive dental work, including several tooth extractions.

Untreated dental disease can cause constant pain, infection, and discomfort, affecting a dog’s ability to eat, sleep, and enjoy daily life. Sadly, many dogs suffer silently with dental pain for months or even years.

The cost of Ruby’s dental treatment at a standard veterinary practice could reach £800–£900, but this treatment is essential. It is not cosmetic or optional. It is the difference between ongoing pain and finally being comfortable again.

Help Dogs Like Ruby Get the Care They Deserve

Ruby cannot do this alone, and neither can we.

Every stage of her recovery depends entirely on the kindness of supporters who believe every rescue dog deserves comfort, dignity, and a second chance, no matter their age or condition.

When you donate, you are not just helping Ruby. You are helping dogs like Ruby — animals who arrive in rescue frightened, grieving, unwell, or in pain, and who desperately need compassionate care, veterinary treatment, and the chance to feel safe again.

Your support helps provide:

• Veterinary treatment
• Dental care
• Specialist diets
• Rehabilitation and recovery support
• Safety, comfort, and love for rescue dogs in need

Most importantly, your donation helps give vulnerable animals the chance to heal and enjoy a better future.

Donate Today to Help Rescue Dogs in Need

Ruby’s journey is already underway, but dogs like her still need your help every day.

Please donate today and help us continue giving rescue dogs the second chances they so deeply deserve.

Text RUBY to 70470 to donate £1.

Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.

At RAIN, we are always looking for innovative ways to raise vital funds for dogs and cats in need while building meaningful partnerships with businesses that share our values. That’s why we are delighted to announce our new partnership with Not Just Travel — a collaboration that allows supporters to book their dream holidays while helping vulnerable animals at the same time.

Travel That Gives Back

Through this exciting partnership, every holiday booked through Karen and Antonio at Not Just Travel will help support the work of RAIN.

When supporters book through the partnership:

• RAIN receives 10% of the commission earned from the booking
• Customers pay no additional fees
• Holidays are fully ABTA and ATOL protected
• Access is available to more than 450 travel suppliers, including Jet2, TUI, EasyJet and many specialist providers

Whether you are planning a family holiday, luxury escape, city break, cruise or pet-friendly getaway, your booking could help provide food, veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and safe shelter for rescue animals waiting for their second chance.

About Karen & Antonio

Karen and Antonio are the passionate travel experts behind the partnership. Eight years ago, they relocated from Australia to Nottingham alongside their beloved pets, Cosmo the Lagotto Romagnolo and Bella their rescue cat.

After settling in the UK, they launched their Not Just Travel franchise and have since helped countless customers create unforgettable travel experiences around the world. Their family later grew with the addition of Romeo, who quickly became part of the family.

As dedicated animal lovers, supporting an animal rescue charity through their business felt like the perfect fit.

Supporting Animals Beyond Fundraising

This partnership is about far more than holidays.

Karen and Antonio will also be helping raise awareness for animals currently searching for homes by regularly featuring RAIN rescue dogs and cats across their social media platforms. They will also support fundraising campaigns, raffles and awareness events throughout the year, while promoting more pet-friendly travel opportunities for animal lovers.

By combining a passion for travel with a commitment to animal welfare, this partnership creates new opportunities to help more animals find safety and loving homes.

Thank You to Not Just Travel

We would like to say a huge thank you to Karen and Antonio for choosing to support RAIN through their business.

Partnerships like this make a genuine difference to the animals we care for every single day. Their enthusiasm, generosity and commitment to helping rescue animals is something we are incredibly grateful for, and we are excited to work together to create lasting impact.

By simply booking a holiday, supporters can now help transform the lives of dogs and cats in desperate need of care and compassion.

Book Your Next Holiday and Support RAIN

Book your next holiday and help rescue animals at the same time!

Follow this link to book your holiday today: https://notjustholidays.com/rainrescue

Or call Karen & Antonio directly on 07397 802770 ✈️

There’s a real buzz of excitement at our brand-new RAIN Rescue site at Misson, and we’re thrilled to finally share another exciting milestone with our supporters and local community.

Our brand-new signs are officially up, and seeing our iconic RAIN orange proudly displayed high on the building is an incredible moment for everyone involved. For the first time, the centre is truly starting to look and feel like RAIN Rescue’s new home.

We’d also like to say a massive thank you to Magenta for creating and installing our fantastic new signage. The signs look amazing and have helped bring our vision for the new animal rescue and community centre to life.

While there’s still work to do behind the scenes, we’re making fantastic progress every day. Our team has been working hard to prepare the space so we can soon open our doors and welcome supporters, adopters, volunteers, and the wider community into our new centre.

This move marks an exciting new chapter for RAIN Rescue as we continue our mission to help animals in need and support pet owners across the region. The new site will allow us to grow our services, create a welcoming community space, and help even more animals find safe and loving homes.

We know many of you are eager to visit, and we can’t wait to share more updates soon — including details about our official opening date and upcoming open day event.

To make sure you don’t miss any news, updates, or announcements, please make sure you’re opted in to receive updates from RAIN Rescue. You can opt in here

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We’re so proud of how far we’ve come, and we can’t wait to welcome you to our secound home very soon.

May is Vet Nurse Awareness Month, a time dedicated to recognising the incredible work of Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) who care for animals every single day.

At RAIN, our veterinary team plays a vital role in helping rescue animals receive the treatment, care, and compassion they need before finding loving homes. This month, we’re celebrating Tash, our dedicated Registered Veterinary Nurse, and highlighting the important work veterinary nurses do behind the scenes.

What Does a Registered Veterinary Nurse Do?

Registered Veterinary Nurses are essential to animal welfare and veterinary care. They support animals through every stage of treatment — from admission and surgery to recovery and rehabilitation.

At RAIN, Tash keeps our vet room running smoothly day to day and provides hands-on care to animals in need.

On surgical days, Tash is there from start to finish:

• Admitting patients
• Preparing animals for procedures
• Monitoring patients under anaesthetic
• Supporting recovery after surgery
• Ensuring animals are safe and comfortable before returning to their families

Her role is crucial in making sure every animal receives the highest standard of veterinary care.

Supporting Rescue Animals Through Veterinary Care

Many animals arriving at RAIN require urgent medical treatment, ongoing monitoring, or recovery support. Having an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse on site helps ensure animals receive the care they need quickly and safely.

Veterinary nurses not only provide medical support, but also comfort frightened or vulnerable animals during stressful situations. Their compassion can make a huge difference to an animal’s recovery journey.

Celebrating Vet Nurse Awareness Month

Vet Nurse Awareness Month helps raise awareness of the important work veterinary nurses do within animal rescue organisations, veterinary practices, and hospitals across the UK.

At RAIN, we are incredibly grateful for Tash and the dedication she brings to helping rescue animals every single day.

Thank you, Tash, for everything you do 🧡

If you’d like to support the work we do for rescue animals, keep following RAIN for more stories from our team and the animals in our care.

Our CEO Trish, Centre Manager Sophie, Chair of Trustees Clare, and Vet Nurse Tash recently attended the 2026 Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) Conference.

It was a fantastic opportunity for the team to step away from day-to-day operations and connect with colleagues from across the animal welfare sector. The conference brought together rescue organisations, rehoming centres, and professionals who are all working towards the same shared goal: improving the lives of animals in need.

Across the event, the team gained fresh insights into current best practice, explored new ideas to support rescue and rehoming work, and took part in valuable discussions around the challenges and opportunities facing the sector today. These conversations are vital in helping organisations like RAIN continue to grow, adapt, and provide the best possible care for animals.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the conference was the chance to meet peers from other organisations, exchange experiences, and celebrate the incredible achievements happening across the rescue community. It’s always inspiring to see the dedication, innovation, and compassion that exists within the sector.

We are excited to bring these new ideas and learnings back to RAIN and put them into practice as we continue working to support animals in need and the people who care for them.

A huge thank you to ADCH for hosting such a valuable event—we’re already looking forward to the next one.

Every day in rescue, we see situations most people never have to witness.

Animals arriving frightened, injured, abandoned, or neglected. It is the steady reality of rescue work, and it is rarely tidy or simple.

A special boy named Eric

We’d like to introduce you to a special boy — Eric.

At around nine months old, Eric should still have been enjoying the carefree world of kittenhood. Instead, he arrived in our care in pain, with a severely damaged eye.

After careful examination, our veterinary team made the difficult but necessary decision to remove it — the only way to prevent further pain, infection, and suffering, and to give him a life free from constant discomfort.

We do not know how Eric was injured.

We only know the condition he arrived in, and it sits heavily with us — the thought of what he may already have endured before he ever reached safety.

This is becoming more common

What is hardest is that situations like Eric’s are becoming more frequent.

More and more animals are coming into rescue care injured, unwell, frightened, or simply discarded when they are no longer wanted. Many need urgent veterinary treatment and ongoing care at a time when rescue resources are already stretched to their limits.

Behind every case is a life

For our team, these are never just “cases”.

They are animals who have already been through so much and are now relying entirely on rescue to make things better from here.

Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly, often under immense pressure, to give every animal the care, treatment, and compassion they deserve.

Every decision is made with their welfare at the centre, and every effort is focused on giving them the best possible chance at a happier future.

We cannot do it alone

Your support helps us act in moments like Eric’s — when an animal arrives in pain and there is no time to wait. It means we can say yes to emergency treatment, yes to surgery, yes to comfort, and yes to a future that otherwise wouldn’t exist for them.

Eric didn’t get to choose what happened to him. But with your help, we can choose what happens next for animals like him.

Please, if you can, make a donation today. Somewhere right now, another animal is arriving just like Eric — frightened, hurting, and completely dependent on rescue to change everything.

Thank you for standing beside them when they have no one else.

Ways You Can Help Our Rescue

Text K to 70480 to donate £1
(Text messages cost £1 plus 1 standard rate message)

Create a monthly payment by sponsoring a cat pod

Donate the value of a meal

Send a cheque addressed to RAIN at

Braken Hill Lane, Misson, Doncaster, DN10 6FA

Phoebe was just 3 years and 11 months old when she first came into RAIN, but even something as simple as breathing was a struggle for her.

She arrived with us due to a change in family circumstances. Her previous owner made the heartbreaking but responsible decision to reach out for help when they knew they could no longer give Phoebe everything she needed. There is absolutely no judgment here — asking for help was the right thing to do.

But it quickly became clear that Phoebe needed urgent care.

Struggling to breathe

Phoebe suffered with severe Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), a condition sadly common in flat-faced breeds like Bulldogs. Because of the way these dogs have been bred, their airways are restricted, making every breath a challenge.

When Phoebe got excited, her breathing became heavy and laboured. Sometimes it became too much for her little body and she would simply flop onto the floor, exhausted, desperately trying to catch her breath.

To imagine Phoebe’s reality was to imagine trying to live your life breathing through a straw.

More than just breathing

Alongside her breathing difficulties, Phoebe arrived with painful ear infections, inflamed skin and severe allergies that left her constantly uncomfortable and itchy. She needed veterinary care, including steroids to help calm her skin, and daily cleaning of her facial folds to prevent infection.

But her breathing was — and remained — the most urgent concern.

Life-changing surgery

Our vets confirmed that Phoebe needed BOAS surgery to widen her airways and give her the chance to breathe properly for the first time in her life.

The surgery cost £1,019 through Animal Trust, alongside ongoing treatment for her skin and ears. For a small rescue like RAIN, these costs were significant — but Phoebe’s wellbeing came first.

Thanks to your incredible support, we were able to say yes.

Phoebe received her life-changing surgery, and it completely transformed her future.

Recovery begins

Phoebe recovered safely with us at the centre after her operation.

She needed to take things very slowly while her throat and airways healed, as swelling was expected after surgery. Full recovery took time and careful monitoring.

But even in those early days, we saw something incredible — Phoebe was breathing more comfortably.

Something she had struggled with for so long was finally becoming easier.

Phoebe’s forever home

And then came the happiest chapter of her journey…

Phoebe found her forever home.

Her new family gave her everything she had always needed — patience, understanding, and so much love.

They shared this beautiful update with us:

“She’s added a new lease of life into the house. She’s gentle, affectionate, great with kids and just wants to play with every dog.

She’s made us all so happy. Her walks are getting longer, and she’s even sleeping fully on her back now… sometimes not even snoring!

She’s fitted in like she’s always been with us. Everyone stops to fuss over her! I cannot thank you all enough. You’ve made us all so happy, and Phoebe seems really happy too 😊

Emma and Sophie, members of the RAIN Welfare Team,  have been absolutely amazing. Sophie was so understanding, professional and kind. She made us feel welcome and heard and was always happy to answer my questions. You can truly see the love you have for all the animals. It was a fantastic, positive experience — Sophie, you are a credit to RAIN. You’ve made our family complete.”

Why we do what we do

Phoebe’s journey is exactly why RAIN exists.

Because no dog should struggle for every breath. And because, with the right care and support, lives can be completely transformed.

Phoebe didn’t just receive treatment — she received a second chance.

And now she gets to live the life she was always meant to have.

Thank you

This story was only possible because of you.

Your support gave Phoebe her surgery, her recovery, and her future.

From all of us — and from Phoebe — thank you for helping change her life.