Let’s hope 2022 is better than 2021! I’m sure we can speak for everyone 2021 was a tough year, but here in the cattery we have had an amazing year to say the current situation.

We had: 309 cat intakes. 35 kittens born on site. 19 kittens born in foster. 14 cats brought in and returned to orginal owners. 276 ADOPTED!

At the moment we have: 11 in Foster. 15 on site. Rain would like to thank everyone for all their donations, adoptions, fundraising and sharing without your help we couldn’t help these beautiful animals If you are thinking of adding a new addition to your family this year please don’t hesitate! We will be with you every step of the way to finding that purrfect cat!

https://rainrescue.co.uk/cats/

Now, we just need to pay for her bill.  £3.00 from 850 people will cover it – so we can afford to help the next dog that needs us.

When Phoebe first arrived her skin was red raw, eyes and ears so swollen she could hardly hear or see and she was scratching at her skin until it bled

hypoallergenic food

monthly flea and worming treatments

numerous vet visits with blood and urine and skin tests

medicated shampoo for several baths per week

lots and lots of anti-biotics, medication

vaccinations, microchip and neutering

double eye surgery to fix her entropion

Just look at that before and after! We can’t believe the difference

And the even better news, Phoebe is going home!! Her new family has been visiting her for several weeks and finally took her home earlier this week she even has another dog to keep her entertained!

We can’t wait to update you with photos once Phoebe is settled with her new family!

With 2020 in full swing we wanted to take this moment to reflect on 2019 and celebrate the 170 adoptions and many more lives you saved by supporting Rain Rescue.  Every donation, like and share on social media, poster displayed, minute spent volunteering, and home given has made this possible.  From the bottom of our hearts….Thank you!

So here they are, each and every cat and dog of 2019:

Sox, Sky, Strauss, Holly, Minstrel, Felix, Dotty, Molly, Jerry, Marble, Frankie, Mooch, Sooty, Jessie, Ebony, Lux , Pookie, Woody, Twila, Gizmo, Tia, Betty, Jellybean , Elvis, Monica, Chandler, Maisie, Rory, Flump, Wendy, Nayla, Rainbow, Luna, Milly, Tilly, Molly, Matilda, Castrol, Theo, Edwin, Mouse, Mickey, Bridie, Millie, Kitty, Ruby, Trixie, Bella, Bella kit 4, Blake, Phoebe, Wendy Kit 4, Wendy Kit 3, Rosie, Fenella, Wendy Kit 5, Katie, Rey, William, Elsa, Smudge, Peanut, Cashew, Hazel, Pecan, Almond, Margo, Derek, Mavis, Freddie, Flopsy, Cotton Tail, Josephine, Mopsy, Tommy, Sooty, Oliver, Amber, Betty, Buffy, Kitney Spears, Bamboo, Bree, Baloo, Cookie, David Meowie, Clara, Cosmo, Crumble, Cricket, Chops, Smokey, Polly, Stanley, Laurel, Rupert, Dory, Domino, Donut, Dumpling, Dorito, Dewberry, Eggbert, Ethel, Eric, Edwina, Fay, Georgina, Fifi, Felicity, Barry, Hercules Oreo, Cake, Jaffa, Clementine, Maureen, Danni, Kylie, Little Man, Iris, Isaac , Indigo, Idris, Ingrid, Jasmine, Kiwi, Koko, Kiki, Dora, Luna, Minerva, Juliette, Jazzy, Jeff, Billy, Lollipop, Lasagne, Lettuce, Lentil, Linguine, Batman, Robin, Dotty, Smokey, Taco, Magic, Reggie, Mow Mow, Merlin, Thundercat, Malachi, Nina, Nugget, RRR 7, Pumpkin, RRR 9, RRR 3, RRR 2, RRR 5, RRR 4, RRR 11, RRR 6, Autumn, Maple, RRR 8, RRR 1, RRR 10, RRR 29, RRR 13, RRR 25, Lulu Kitten, RRR 27, Mitzi, RRR 22, Lulu Kitten, RRR 19, RRR 20, RRR 14, RRR 16, Lily, RRR 28, RRR 24, Lulu Kitten, RRR 12, RRR 23, Lulu Kitten, RRR 17, Langley, RRR 18, Penny, RRR 15, RRR 21, Lulu, RRR 26, Lulu Kitten, Godric, Midge, Boo, Sabrina, Blair, Olga, Orla, Olivia, Sprout, Cher, Sonny, Fred, Wilma, Gloria, Midnight, Palmer, Tom, Pepper, Perry, Paisley, KitKat, Simba, Tink, Splodge, Rocketman, Jude, Basil, Lucky, Rose, Blue, Diva , Sassy, Frosty, Blizzard, Winter, Zorro

Tia, Winnie, Zippy, Teddy, Anna, Billy, Cybil, Harvey, Bess, Noel, Katie, Edna, Hugo, Amo, Miyagi, Billy, Sam, Ethel, Cuthbert, Leo, Gus, Lily, Ruby, Stella, Beryl, Sy, Madge, Una, Eira, Rosa, Frayda, Bella, Yogi, Lexie, Candy, Dudley, Roxy, Leia, Yoda, Billy, Rupert, Robyn, Tilly, Tiggy, Jemima, Elton, Dave, Florence, Lady, Tramp, , Fizz, Bob, Kia, Carol, Barney, Lennon, Nutmeg, Slinky Terrence, Bertha, Brenda, Lexi, Koda, Hector, Tallulah, Winnie, Buzz, India, Flossy, Una, Vera, Jack, Norbert, Elvis, Richard, Mouse , Nora, Ace, Babs, Kaizer, Gizmo, Emily, Diesel, Daisy, Wayne, Melvin, Mia, Shadow, Tulip, Roger, Elsa, Ada, Spider, Buffy, Luna, Paddy, Babel, Bram, Glinda, Rebble, Jax, Patch, Fleur, Alvin, Unnamed Crossbreed, Gilbert, Unnamed Crossbreed 2, Jerry, Old Tyme, Willow, Leon, Jolene, Roxy, George, Lillie, Frank, Tim, Pixie, Biscuit, Daisy, Matilda, Oliver, Buddy, Steven and Ceri.

Please give urgently today, we need you now more than ever…

To date, Wednesday 25 March 2020, we’ve welcomed 105 animals through our gates since the start of this year. Cats and dogs that have been abandoned, suffered neglect or were much loved pets that needed a new home due to their owners facing financial difficulties or terminal illness. 

We are doing everything we can here at Rain Rescue to play our part to flatten the curve and to help fight this situation we all face with Coronavirus (Covid-19) from getting any worse, but the reality is, as a small charity, this is already testing our survival to be able to carry on. 

Our welfare team can’t work from home. They work 9-10 hour days to care for the most vulnerable cats and dogs in our region.

Further to the Prime Ministers announcement on 23 March 2020. We put the following measures in place, with immediate effect

• All adoptions have been stopped for at least the next few weeks.
• Our non-welfare staff are now working from home.
• Only volunteers providing essential support to animal welfare will be allowed on site, providing they are fit and well and feel comfortable to help.
• Only welfare staff will be permitted to carry out essential travel to work and travel for emergency vet visits.

We want to be there for those vulnerable animals, life has already abandoned them once, we must continue to survive as a charity so we can fight for them. To provide food to the once starving stray dog, safety for the Mum cat and her kittens thrown out and left to fend for themselves, treatment for the sick and injured and all the while give them the love and understanding they deserve. They need us now more than ever.

We need you now more than ever!

We don’t receive any government funding, and our planned fundraising activity and events have had to be cancelled, as are all events across the UK.

We appeal to you today to please continue to support our work in the months ahead in whatever way you can. 

To make a donation now please visit our Just Giving Appeal page

http://www.justgiving.com/campaign/we-need-you

To buy a gift for one of our animals in need please visit

https://www.rainrescue.co.uk/product-category/wishlist

For other ways to support please visit

There is a lot of uncertainty ahead for us all and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your thoughts and support during these difficult weeks and months ahead. We can’t survive without you.

Stay safe.

Rain Rescue x

A new vital piece of legislation and a significant milestone for animal welfare in England.

On Monday 6th April we welcomed the introduction of Lucy’s Law, a new vital piece of legislation meaning that anyone buying a puppy or kitten under 6 months old must deal directly with the breeder or an animal rehoming centre. A significant milestone for animal welfare in England and a huge step towards putting a stop to this cruelty, but we all need to do our bit to make sure this legislation is enforced.

Founder, Jacquie Neilson says “Please don’t be fooled by the nice lady or man that offers to drop your puppy off because “they are passing” or will happily bring it to your home, or meet you at the services or the pub car park. These are all classic signs of puppy farms.  The mum will be left behind in a dirty dismal room, and will already have been mated, ready for the next litter she is to produce.  Puppies will be washed and fluffy ready for collection but you can’t scrub away the damage already done to their little bodies hidden on the inside.  That will never go away.  We all have to play our part and hard though it is, Do Not Buy a puppy or kitten without doing your research and seeing a healthy cared for mum”

These people rent houses posing as a happy family, they set up the scenario and people fall for it selling hundreds from the front room. 

There are huge sums of money involved here. We are constantly hearing stories that puppy farming is funding many types of crime in the world. Stories that it pays for drug money, it buys guns and ammunition and is a big vehicle generating income for terrorists. Don’t be fooled that it’s innocent, it isn’t. Think about the mum and dad of that puppy or kitten that are left behind for the next batch. 

Always do your research and always ask questions.”

Full details on Lucy’s Law and how you can spot the warning signs of cruel puppy and kitten dealers can be found here

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lucys-law-spells-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-puppy-farming

Rain Rescue would like to thank everyone who has been involved in making this happen ????

Thank you to everyone who took part and voted in our ‘Pets in Isolation’ photography competition. We had lots of fab entries, it was great to see your much loved pets, and some previous RAIN residents, looking good through lockdown. There could only be one winner though, receiving a pet photoshoot with the fabulous professional photographer Shelley Richmond (after lockdown), and that was…. Evie! Congratulations!!

Huge thanks to all of our four-legged friends for taking part, you’re all winners to us! ????

We want to give the biggest shout out to the team at Support Adoption For Pets for their continued and generous support as this year we have been the recipients of not one but two amazing grants to aid our vital work, saving dogs and cats in crisis here in South Yorkshire.

The first grant came a few short months ago, we had some serious drainage issues here at Rain and often in bad weather our soak aways would back up and cause huge problems for the team and animals here on site. They were old, smelly and not fit for purpose. A grant of £13,000 from Support Adoption For Pets has meant we’ve been able to install a new drainage system across the site – including from from our cattery which never had connected drains before – for which our volunteers will testify is absolutely life changing. We cannot say a big enough thank you to Support Adoption for recognising the difference this infrastructure will make to our centre and it’s animals. Things like pipes and tanks might not be the most exciting topics but they are so essential to the running of our centre.

As if we weren’t already grateful enough, we are honoured to have been the recipient of a £5000 this month in emergency funding as we were hit by COVID-19 … the funds will help us survive this uncertain period of time and help ensure we can be here long into the future to save dogs and cats from crisis situations. Thank you Support Adoption For Pets – we think you are awesome!

Here’s some photos of the drains before, the drainage as it went in on site, and the site now as well as Bruno, recently rescued and rehomed by Rain – able to come into kennels that have hygienic non flooding drains!

We are delighted to be holding our very first online dog show!

As many of you know due to COVID-19 face to face fundraising events are not currently able to take place. Each year we usually hold at least 2 dog shows but this doesn’t look likely in 2020 so we’ve taken our show to the world wide web.

Entering couldn’t be easier, simply visit our website https://www.rainrescue.co.uk/product-category/dogshow … click on the class you wish to enter, upload your photo, add to cart – do this for all the classes you wish to enter (you can also enter each class more than once) – then check out and pay your entry fees.

Classes are £1.50 per entry and the classes are as follows :

Best Rescue
Marvellous Male
Fabulous Female
Golden Oldie
Best Walkies
Happiest Hound
Funniest Face
Gone But Not Forgotten
Family Portrait
Canine Colleague
Dog The Judge Would Most Like To Take Home

Enter now : https://www.rainrescue.co.uk/product-category/dogshow

Entries are open between 2nd June – 10th June (8am closure).
Judging will be on our Facebook page from 10th June – 12th June, with the exception of Dog The Judge Would Most Like To Take Home which will be judged privately by Rain Rescue staff and volunteers. Winners will be announced 13th June! Prizes for first place will be a Rain Rescue goodie bag of merchandise and treat for your pooch!

Good luck and have fun!!

We are blown away, delighted, over the moon and so so proud to have been announced as the winners of the 2020 PetPlan & ADCH Charity Awards – Animal Charity Team of the Year!

It’s a huge honour and whilst these times are probably the most difficult we’ve ever faced as a charity this has given us all a real boost and makes us even more determined to continue to be here for dogs and cats in crisis.

Watch the awards announcements hosted by the wonderful Anthony Head here :

Your help is needed right now to continue saving the lives of homeless and abandoned dogs and cats.

Hello,

This July marks Rain Rescue’s 18th birthday and I wanted to mark this significant milestone by reflecting on our many achievements (Did you know that Rain Rescue was just awarded the PetPlan and ADCH award for Animal Charity Team of the Year 2020?!), recognising our struggles, saying thank you for your support and ask if you will ensure Rain Rescue can be there for 18 more years and beyond. 

It was back in 2002 when I saved my first dog from the local stray pound, and Rain Rescue was born. I have seen so much cruelty and heartbreak during those years and every day poses a new challenge. Every day there is another desperate animal needing our help. I have also seen the growth of an amazing charity that started as a one woman rescue into a still small but mighty team of passionate people doing all they can to save as many as they can. I have seen the joy of adopted pets as they head to loving homes. I have seen families become complete with the addition of a beloved pet.

Albert pictured in this letter was just one of the thousands of animals I have seen come and go through our gates, he arrived on a cold winter’s evening from the stray pound, skinny, and grey – to see an elderly dog homeless and alone in a kennel never gets any easier. We just received the second photo of him two and a half years later, he’s now cherished in a loving home and although even greyer than before he’s a happy soul.

2020 has been Rain Rescue’s toughest year yet. The Coronavirus pandemic turned everything the charity does on its head. No adoptions were allowed. No fundraising events could be held. Did this mean no more rescue? With the daunting prospect of having to close becoming a more and more likely reality, we had to dig deep and find the strength and resilience needed to survive. Throughout Spring our supporters have been our lifeline, but the struggle is far from over.

We’ve found new ways of working and in the last 3 months saved over 80 animals, including many mum cats and kittens from the streets, dogs and cats from owners who have passed from COVID-19 as well as 9 ex racing Greyhounds. As lockdown is lifted we expect there will be huge numbers of animals in need, people will undoubtedly be facing so many personal hardships such as job losses and evictions.

It’s so important to ensure Yorkshire’s homeless dogs and cats always have somewhere to turn in their time of need. Your support is needed to ensure Rain Rescue can continue to be there for the most vulnerable animals in our community long into the future.

Will you help Rain Rescue survive?

£50  could keep an abandoned animal safe, warm and sheltered for 5 nights.

£25  could feed a rescue dog for a whole month.

£10  could buy each cat their own bed and scratching post.

Whatever amount you chose to donate, know that your gift is making a huge difference to homeless animals.

Please send your best gift now at www.rainrescue.co.uk/donate to give online so Rain Rescue can keep saving lives long into the future or you can give from your mobile by texting ‘BARK2/3/5/10’ to 70500 – texts cost your donation amount plus your standard network charge. Always ask the bill payers permission.

We really couldn’t do any of this without YOU! Thank you!

Best Wishes,

J.Neilson

Jacquie Neilson,  Founder

jacquie@rainrescue.co.uk

Rain Rescue backs the campaign to warn prospective pet owners against being “pet fished” …
Vets, charities and animal-loving celebrities have joined forces with a government campaign to warn prospective pet owners against unknowingly buying puppies, kittens, cats and dogs from unscrupulous sellers amid a rise in demand for pets since lockdown.

British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) President Ian Ramset said: “Vets are continuing to see many owners who have been sold very sick puppies by unscrupulous dealers simply because new owners have not researched the seller before buying their pet. As a result, vets see first-hand the distress and upset this can cause owners. We would urge anyone thinking of buying a puppy or kitten to check their pet is coming from a responsible seller before making a decision to buy.”

To avoid being Petfished, the public are being urged to spot vital red flags when researching sellers with the acronym S.P.O.T

Seller – put the seller’s name and phone number into a search engine – avoid those with multiple adverts

Parent – make sure you see puppies and kittens in their home with their mother

Old enough – check puppies and kittens are at least 8 weeks old before you take them home

Treatment – ask to see the anima’s health records and avoid sellers who can’t provide them.

Read the full article here : https://www.companionlife.co.uk/vets-and-celebrities-warn-against-cruel-and-opportunist-lockdown-pet-sellers

Hot off the press and just 100 printed copies to sell our bespoke calendars showing 12 professional photos taken of the cats that are in some way linked with Rain Rescue. Some are those of our volunteers or staff, and some are those rescued by Rain. Each one of them plays a part in the Rain Rescue story.

Our calendars will make you smile as you turn over each month of 2021 and think of the cats that you are helping us to save throughout the year.

Pop over to our SHOP and see the calendars and other gifts you can buy for you and your friends this year. The calendar will be posted out in an envelope.

This year – better than ever, our bespoke calendars showing 12 professional photos taken of the dogs that are in some way linked with Rain Rescue. Some are those of our volunteers or staff, and some are those rescued by Rain. Each one of them plays a part in the Rain Rescue story.

Our calendars will make you smile as you turn over each month of 2021 and think of the hundreds of dogs lives that you are helping us to save throughout the year.

Pop over to our SHOP and see the calendars and other gifts you can buy for you and your friends this year. The calendar will be posted out in an envelope.

WIN A WONDERFUL PRIZE – RAIN’s RAFFLE!!! – Quick – pop over to the RAIN RESCUE AUCTION GROUP Facebook page and give yourself a chance to win one of these wonderful 12 prizes. Or the BONUS prize of a Rain Rescue Calendar.

Lots of wonderful prizes and just £2.00 for a number or £5.00 for 3 numbers – what have you to loose

Once you’ve picked your numbers on the Facebook Group – come back to the Rain SHOP and pay for your numbers straight to Rain.

RAIN RESCUE AUCTION GROUP

This year has been a year like no other, in every respect. We’ve faced challenges like never before, caring for more poorly animals than we can ever remember, in the midst of a global pandemic, with furloughed staff, redundancies and the cancellation of most of our planned fundraising events for the year.

Despite all this we’ve carried on, and worked tirelessly for those who need us the most.

404 animals (an increase of 11% from 2019) have passed through our gates this year on the way to a better future, thanks to your support.

Just as importantly, we’ve been there for the owners and their families when they had nowhere else to turn; facing homelessness, hospitalisation, financial hardship and sometimes, tragically, the death of a loved one. We also remember the animals who arrived too late, and were shown kindness in their final days before passing over Rainbow Bridge.

Who knows what 2021 will bring, but, because of people like you, donating and supporting our work, we can continue to be there for those who need us this coming year.

Mogstock 2021 is BACK – Tickets Available Now!

Every year our fabulous cat fosterers and volunteers Phil and Donna Elsey organise Mogstock. A roaring rock music festival in aid of Rain Rescue. For obvious reasons the 2020 Mogstock did not go ahead as planned but this year it is back and better than ever! Save the date in your diaries – 2nd October at The Record Junkee, Sheffield, S1 3FP

And what a line up it is. Bands confirmed : Yesterday’s Gone, Stevie R Pearce and the Hooligans, Tensheds, LoGoZ, Aonia, Lowdrive, The Suicide Notes and The Hot Rockets!

Now is the chance to grab your tickets, and get back to enjoying the fun and festivities with live music and fundraising. Name a better combo! We look forward to seeing you there.

BUY YOUR TICKETS

Today has been a hard day – in the last 2 days, we have taken in 4 cats and 2 dogs as well as rehoming 1 cat and 2 kittens & 3 vet trips. We now have 50 dogs and cats being paid for and cared by Rain tonight.So I had to share this with you. Eli is one we could say YES to, and that we could help Eli is the reason why I work in rescue. Through so many ups and downs and horrible days, knowing that we could say YES to helping him, makes it bare-able.Eli has lived with his dad for the last 9 years. Sadly, dad could no longer care for Eli, and if we couldn’t take him, he had nowhere to go but a one way trip to the vets. When we heard it was an 11 year old GSD I was dubious? They are normally on their last legs at 8 or 9 but 11?

Then Eli bounced out of the car. Yes, he’s stressed and missed his dad but when the vet checked him over, he did have lumps but they were just cysts – and other than that – he loves the field, he loves his tea and he loves us. Tonight Eli is safe, he’s warm, he has a thick bed, and he’s fed. Tomorrow he will start to look for his new home whilst he gets flea’d and wormed and groomed.Tomorrow is a new day for Eli and for me – because tomorrow, I know I can face another day.Thank you all for supporting our wonderful charity as we say “YES” to Eli. Come on in!!! Your £2.00 helps us keep on saying “YES”.

Jacquie x

Send a donation for the dogs and cats at Rain Rescue