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Christmas cheer is in the air at Rain Rescue! During our tireless efforts to find loving homes for animals and around the clock care for poorly kittens in need, we’re thrilled to unveil our special Christmas shop.
Get into the holiday spirit by browsing our dedicated shop, where you’ll find delightful Christmas cards and 2024 calendars. Every purchase you make spreads joy and supports our mission to provide essential care, food, and shelter for our beloved cats and dogs.

Our dedication to animal welfare extends to every breed and every furry friend in need, so we would like to address the upcoming ban on XL Bullies imposed by the UK Government.
XL Bullies are important members of countless families across the nation. However, recent government plans threaten to disrupt the lives of both these beloved pets and their owners.
The Dogs Trust are giving support to people with dogs that may come under this classificaiton. We urge you to follow their guidance and keep up to date with all information and what they advise you to do. Insurance is mandatory for these dogs, and you will probably NOT get insurance once this is in force, and urge all owners to insure their dogs.
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/american-bully-xl
This is the Govt. definition
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog
The abruptness of this decision has left many pet owners in a state of unease and uncertainty. With little time for preparation and crucial details about exemptions yet to be disclosed, many owners are understandably distressed.
We urge every pet lover, supporter, and concerned citizen to take action. Contact your local MP, voice your concerns, and stand with us to safeguard the welfare of XL Bullies and their families.
Use this link to contact your MP.
At Rain Rescue, we believe in informed decisions that prioritise the well-being of animals. Let’s work together to ensure a fair and compassionate approach for XL Bullies, allowing them to continue being the cherished companions they are.
See RSPCA’s article with more information about the XL Bully Ban – https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/changingthelaw/bsl/xlbullies

We would like to say a HUGE thank you to Burns Pet Nutrition for their incredible support!
Over the past year, they’ve generously provided food valued at £7403 to nourish the hungry bellies of homeless cats and dogs at Rain Rescue
This remarkable contribution is equivalent to feeding 4 cats or dogs with nourishing meals for an entire year!
Not only do their generous food donations help feed animals in need, but they also guarantee that the animals in our care receive a well-balanced and nutritious diet too.
You can give your beloved pets the same level of care with Burns’ extensive selection of food and treats. Plus, they’re currently offering an amazing 30% discount on select products!
Explore their range at https://burnspet.co.uk/ and provide your furry friends with the best.

In a world that often feels like a whirlwind of news and updates, we could all use a little more positivity and happiness in our lives. That’s why we’re thrilled to share our latest newsletter, packed with an assortment of heart-warming stories that will brighten your day. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to sign up to receive a regular dose of smiles, inspiration, and uplifting tales.
https://mailchi.mp/rainrescue/from-struggles-to-smiles

We are deeply concerned about the recent surge in animal cruelty cases, particularly those involving cats!
The RSPCA has recently issued a warning, highlighting the increase in incidents of intentional harm towards animals. One distressing example is Benny, a cat who endured multiple surgeries after suffering from the unimaginable cruelty of having boiling water poured on his head. Despite the immense suffering, Benny showed incredible resilience and survived after undergoing six operations!
The statistics for 2022 are alarming, with a 25% increase in intentional harm incidents against cats, resulting in five cats being intentionally harmed every day in the UK. Sadly, the violence is not limited to cats alone; there has been a dramatic overall increase in cruelty cases, as evident from the reported figures:
- Reports of beatings rose by 22%, from 7,857 in 2021 to a staggering 9,658 in 2022.
- During the summer months, incidents reached a peak, with August of 2022 recording 1,081 cases of animal cruelty in a single month!
- Animals killed under suspicious circumstances also saw an increase, with the number rising from 775 in 2021 to 891 in 2022.
While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for the increase, several factors may be contributing to it. One possible cause is the rise in pet ownership during the pandemic. Additionally, the ongoing cost of living crisis and a lack of regulations surrounding pet ownership requirements, such as mandatory training, may also be contributing factors.
However, none of these reasons can justify or excuse animal cruelty. Hurting an animal for fun, out of stress, or for any other reason is a criminal act and deserves severe punishment.
The increase in animal cruelty also poses significant challenges for animal rescues like us too, as more animals are left in our care. The rising number of unwanted pets and the increasing cost of their care put a huge strain on our resources and capabilities.
We encourage everyone who can to support and donate to animal charities. By doing so, you can help us and other organisations continue our efforts to provide a safe haven and loving care for animals in need.
If you wish to learn more about the RSPCA report, you can click HERE.
To report any instances of cruelty or neglect, please click HERE.
Together, we can make a difference and work towards a more compassionate and caring world for all animals.


Between 1st January and 30th June we have taken in 182 cats and dogs into our care






South Yorkshire Police is raising awareness about responsible dog adoption, to ensure that anyone considering bringing a new pet into their home understands the importance of rehoming from reputable rescue centres and avoiding purchasing dogs from social media without thorough checks.
This crucial warning from specialized officers comes in response to recent incidents where two young children suffered dog bites after their families acquired dogs through social media platforms or rehoming processes lacking proper assessments.
Dog Liaison Officer Rachael Attwell provides valuable insights into the rise of incidents involving dogs obtained through social media. She explains, “We are witnessing an alarming increase in dangerous dogs and incidents of dogs behaving aggressively in our communities, causing fear and harm.”
Attwell continues, “We have observed a growing trend where dogs recently purchased or acquired through social media are involved in such incidents. Sellers often conceal a dog’s behavioural issues in their advertisements, irresponsibly passing the problem onto unsuspecting new owners.”
In light of these concerns, we urge anyone considering adding a new dog to their family to prioritize rehoming from reputable animal shelters or purchasing from trustworthy and genuine sellers.
Dogs rehomed through rescues have undergone extensive behavioural assessments to determine their compatibility with children, including young ones. On the other hand, sellers on social media platforms are primarily focused on selling dogs and may not have your family’s best interests at heart, potentially leading to devastating consequences.
We promote safe and responsible pet ownership to protect families and their dogs. Remember, your decision to adopt can make a world of difference in the lives of these deserving animals.


Although kittens are adored, for charities, they represent more than just a cute and cuddly bundle of fur. They come with huge costs and countless hours of labour.
This time of year is when cats are in full swing for mating, which can last from Spring all the way to late autumn! Tiny kittens are born outside – under hedges, in work yards and even in people’s gardens. Just abandoned and all alone.
We already have 9 kittens in foster care and we know there will be many more to come. Our newest arrival, Betty, just gave birth to 5 precious kittens this week and we are anxiously awaiting for Sweetpea & Bonnie to give birth too. They are both due any day now.
We need help to care for these innocent little kittens and vulnerable mums.
Did you know Mums are in our care for around 83 days and kittens for around 68 days before they can be adopted?
The cost of caring for the Mums & Kittens currently in our care is a staggering £3200!!
Sabrina gave birth to Apple, Crumble, Rhubarb & Custard in January
Biscuit gave birth to Cheese & Pickle in February
Betty gave birth to Ethel, Ivy, Rupert, Theodore & Winnie in March
And Sweetpea and Bonnie are due to give birth in April!
If 640 generous people could each donate just £5, it would help us cover this cost and ensure that these precious cats receive the attention and care they need.
With every £50 we receive, we can also help neuter a cat, preventing the birth of unwanted kittens who may be left to fend for themselves.
Your contribution can reduce the number of cats in need and improve their quality of life.
You can help by donating to these kitties directly through our website www.rainrescue.co.uk/donate or by donating to our Facebook Kitten Season fundraiser – www.facebook.com/donate/2295011410680988

Yesterday, new legislation was introduced in Parliament making it compulsory for all owned cats to be microchipped. This will help reunite lost or stray cats with their owners. Currently, around 2.3 million pet cats in England are unchipped, making it difficult to identify their owners if they go missing.
Owners have until 10 June 2024 to have their cat microchipped. If they fail to do so, they may face a fine of up to £500. The microchip, which is the size of a grain of rice, will be inserted under the cat’s skin before they reach 20 weeks of age. The registered owner’s contact details will be stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database.
The new rules follow a Government consultation in which 99% of respondents expressed support for the measure. The introduction of compulsory cat microchipping was a manifesto commitment and an Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge.
The Chief Veterinary Officer has praised microchipping as the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets. By getting their cat microchipped, owners can increase the likelihood that they will be reunited with their beloved pet in the event of it going missing.
It is important for owners with cats that are already microchipped to ensure their details are up to date. The new legislation will not apply to free-living cats that live with little or no human interaction or dependency, such as farm, feral, or community cats.
Credit to Gov.uk
You will find there original article here.

We need your help to spread the word for all the homeless cats and dogs who are looking for their new family and fresh start!
Maybe you could display one of our posters in your local shop or post office, you could even take them to work to display in your staff room The quicker we can find homes for these vulnerable cats and dogs, the quicker we can start helping others that need us too.
You can keep checking for updated versions and download our posters here – www.rainrescue.co.uk/display-our-posters
Have you seen our latest newsletter?
Find out who our newbies are, great gifts for your Mum this Mother’s Day and even why our field is currently closed for hire!
Check it out here – https://mailchi.mp/rainrescue/will-you-display-one-of-our-posters

Our latest newsletter is an update on all the cats and dogs still looking for their new homes, including our furry friend Ziggy.
Ziggy is an older chap who wants nothing more than to find his retirement home. He has so much love to give and would like to live with someone who has the time to spend with him.
You will also find in our latest newsletter:
- Our gift aid declaration for you to add 25% extra to your donations
- More ways to donate, whether that be a monthly donation or by donating a night of care to a cat and a dog
- A great offer for Natusan Cat Litter. Just £5 for a 10 litre bag off sustainable cat litter!
- And, finally a sad update on our brave boy Merlin who recently had to cross the rainbow bridge
Make sure to sign up to our newsletter, so you do not miss out on any future news or updates at Rain Rescue (Sign up in the section just below the news on our homepage).
You can also read & subscribe to our latest newsletter here:

We are sure many of you would have seen the Panorama documentary about Dogs, Dealers and Organised Crime that was aired by the BBC on the 23rd of January.
If you didn’t catch it, you can watch the episode here – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001hjbw
This was a big eye opener for us and we already work within animal welfare, so we are glad this was aired to show everyone the problems involving dog breeding and animal welfare right now.
In 2021, 69,000 Bulldog type puppies were registered for sale in the UK – that’s just one specific breed of dog, not to mention thousands more of different breeds.
Many dogs are being bred as part of a money making scheme, not thinking about the welfare or health of these animals. Which may result in them being unwanted, abandoned and left on the streets to fend for themselves or even being euthanised before they even have the chance at a good life!
We understand not everyone breeds dogs with exaggerated features for sale purposes but breeding in general is causing great strain on rescues and animal welfare in general.
We have seen an increase in unwanted dogs each year, based on the ones that solely arrive at Rain Rescue.
In 2021, we rescued 66 dogs
In 2022, we rescued 84 dogs
And this year alone, up to the 24th of January, we have already rescued 11 dogs
If we continue taking in around 11 dogs each month until the end of 2023, we will be rescuing around 132 dogs… This is double the amount in 2021!
With more unwanted animals than ever before, especially with the current cost of living crisis, comes more cost and strain on animal welfare and rescues like us. Each animal brought through our gates requires veterinary attention, food, shelter, time and care.
If we can do only one thing this year, we would ask, please stop breeding animals, and adopt unwanted vulnerable animals instead. We try not to turn anyone away and it breaks our hearts knowing how many we have on our list still waiting to come in, but we are simply full to capacity and cannot do anymore than we already do!
If you are in a position to help us, we would be forever grateful! Your support means we can continue helping as many animals possible that need rehoming through no fault of their own
https://rainrescue.co.uk/donate/

Are you signed up to our newsletter?
Keep up with all things Rain Rescue when you sign up. From animals ready for adoption, happy updates from animals that found their happily ever after or how you can help Rain Rescue in the future.
This weeks email reminds you of our beautiful girl Star, still waiting for her fur-ever home. It also includes updates on Hilda the Greyhound, stray Mum Sabrina and her new kittens born at Rain Rescue and a lovely cat, Tiger, who was brought to us but then happily reunited with her owner!
https://rainrescue.co.uk/animals/star/
Read & sign up to our latest newsletter here:

We would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and a great start to 2023!
Looking back on 2022, it was a crazy year and we are expecting 2023 to be just as busy, if not busier. It may be busy, but we also have so many exciting things planned, and after all it is a fresh start to try to help even more animals than last year!
We are proud to have helped so many animals and we will continue that into 2023 too. Our team work tirelessly 7 days a week and we will not stop or work any less, because if we did the 260 cats and 84 dogs that came through our gates looking for homes last year, would not have had the help or chance at a better, happier life. This is why it is so important that we continue doing what we always have with the amazing support from you too.
Thank you for all your support throughout 2022, we would not be able to do the work that we do without your support and generous donations! In 2023, we are wishing for homes, happiness and more homes for all animals in need and we hope you stick along for the journey too.
Lots of love from the Rain Rescue team x

Department: Welfare Operations
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S66 1DZ
Hours: 40 hours per week (08:00-17:00) – 5 days out of 7 rota, covering weekends
Salary: £19,500-£24,000 (depending on experience)
Qualifications:
-
Worked in a kennel or cattery workplace environment: 2 years (Required)
-
Driving Licence (Required)
ABOUT THE ROLE
The role reports to the Kennel & Cattery Lead and is responsible for the general day-to-day care of animals during their time at the centre. They ensure the safety and welfare of the dogs and cats in our care, engaging with members of the public and continually providing excellent customer service to optimise animal and customer journeys. The role will be expected to work cross-functionally in both the Cattery and Kennels.
Animal Intake:
- Ensuring a compassionate, empathetic, non-judgemental approach is taken with all members of the public needing to relinquish a cat or dog
- Arrange and conduct intake assessments
- Maintain accurate admission paper and electronic records in line with agreed procedures
Animal Care:
- Responsible for the welfare of animals in the Charity’s care, ensuring the highest standards of care are given at all times, in line with ADCH Code of Practice and the Charity’s guidelines and considering the individual needs of each animal
- Responsible for the day-to-day care of all animals, including the cleaning and maintenance of accommodation, feeding, exercising, socialisation and enrichment
- To work closely with all members of the welfare team regarding the progress of animals in our care, always keeping in mind the ultimate goal of rehoming
- Responsible for delivering the agreed training and behaviour interventions to applicable animals
- Uphold RCVS standards and conform to welfare and veterinary procedures for the administration of all medication conforming to legal requirements including the storage and handling of drugs and disposal of waste.
- Maintain accurate paper and electronic records in a timely manner, ensuring animal information is recorded in line with agreed processes and procedures
- Responsible for conducting behavioural assessments in line with agreed procedures
- To monitor the health and wellbeing of the animals, ensuring that any animal illness, injury or behaviour issues are recorded and reported immediately to the Kennel & Cattery Lead or
Welfare Operations Manager in their absence
- Carry out veterinary visits as appropriate
- Responsible for ensuring vet visits and instructions are carried out as necessary. To cooperate with the vet in respect of the examination and treatment of animals including ensuring that treatments and medications are administered in the prescribed quantity at the specified intervals
- To ensure all veterinary advice is followed exactly, monitoring progress and identifying and flagging any relevant changes uncovered in the animals health before and after medication
- To ensure all animals have the required medication and treatment in line with standard procedures, including correct timing of neutering, vaccination, flea and worm and microchipping
Animal Rehoming:
- Positively promote rehoming, be knowledgeable of the rehoming procedures, giving advice to those wishing to rehome a pet and assist customers with any homing enquiries, providing accurate information to ensure a thorough matching process is adhered to at all times
- Conduct adoptions alongside the Welfare Coordinator, covering a high level of customer service and a thorough matching service.
- Oversee introductions between our animals and potential owners existing pets
- Recommend when an animal is ready for rehoming and carry out necessary preparations
- Provision of photographs/videos and promotional content in preparation for rehoming
- Ensure all animals available for homing are advertised in a positive and professional manner, focusing on evidence based matching criteria
- In conjunction with the Kennel & Cattery Lead, promote and implement optimum ‘Length of Stay’ so no animal is in our care longer than necessary
Other Duties:
- Maintain high standards of work at all times
- Provide effective and compassionate customer service
- Ensure all areas of the centre are kept hazard free, clean and tidy at all times
- To work alongside other members of the team, including volunteers providing support as appropriate
- To attend relevant training and personal development opportunities to fulfil requirements of the role
- Ensuring and considering the cost-effectiveness of all operations and activities
- Ensure that cash control and handling procedures are fully adhered to
- Deal with public enquiries in a timely and professional manner, including but not limited to: telephone enquiries, emails, social media and visitors to the centre
- Positively promote and contribute to centre fundraising activities at all times
- Adhere to all Rain Rescue policies and procedures
- Carry out other duties relevant to the post as directed by the Kennel & Cattery Lead or other members of the centre Leadership team or Board of Trustees
ABOUT YOU
The ideal candidate will have a love of dogs & cats and a passion to help match them into the right new home, with an understanding of animal behaviour and a desire to learn more. You will have experience of working in a similar role and be comfortable in an environment where no two days are ever the same and sometimes tough decisions are needed. You will be hard-working and reliable and possess a passion for animal welfare and an empathy with people. You will have excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads and have eective time management.
Required knowledge, skills and experience:
- Full clean driving licence
- Ability to work constructively and collaboratively with all colleagues and volunteers across the centre
- Understanding of The Animal Welfare Act and behavioural issues
- Sound awareness and understanding of medical and behavioural problems and issues and how they may be displayed in a rescue environment
- Ability to care for cats and dogs from a range of different backgrounds, competently and safely handling them using the appropriate methods
- Experience working in the charity sector, preferably in animal welfare
- Understanding of rescue centre operations and ability to implement safe procedures
- Professional and empathetic customer service skills
- High attention to detail for accuracy and welfare considerations
- Good communication and relationship building skills
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written
- Confident IT skills and good organisational and decision-making skills
Personal attributes:
- Responsible
- Trustworthy
- Compassionate
- Adaptable
- High level of Integrity and attention to detail
- Dynamic
- Resilient


We have been working harder than usual recently, not only helping many animals in need find homes & families, but also preparing all things Christmas too! Our dedicated Christmas shop is now live, where you can shop Christmas Cards & 2023 Calendars. All profits will be used to continue providing care, food & shelter to the cats & dogs here.
