13/02/2026
💙 One Year On – 💙
Today marks one year since we launched our appeal.
This time last year, we shared the devastating news that our Animal Centre in East Ardsley was at serious risk of closure due to a severe lack of funds. It was one of the hardest announcements we’ve ever had to make, and at times, we really didn’t know what the future would look like.
But what happened next was nothing short of incredible.
Our community came together. You shared our posts, donated so generously, organised fundraisers, supported our events, and stood beside us when we needed you most. Together, you helped us raise over £120,000, which saved our Animal Centre from closure and meant we could continue helping animals in need.
Alongside this, we also received notice of an extraordinary legacy gift left to us in a will by a supporter who wanted to continue helping animals long into the future. This incredibly generous gift will play a vital role in helping us stabilise our finances and plan more confidently for the future.
We are also so grateful to the many local businesses and companies who stepped forward during the crisis, organising workplace fundraisers, donating funds and rallying their teams to support us. Your support carried us through one of the most difficult periods in our history.
Although we had to pause dog rehoming last year, we never stopped supporting dogs. Our kennels continued to provide a safe place for National RSPCA dogs on a welfare basis, giving them care, training and support before they were transferred to other centres for rehoming.
And now, one year on, we are incredibly proud that we are rehoming dogs again. In January, Aurora became the first dog to be rehomed since we were able to resume dog rehoming, a milestone that, at some points, felt completely out of reach. We also have other dogs preparing to head off to their forever homes very soon.
Over the past year, we’ve cared for hundreds of dogs and cats, and continued being a lifeline for local animals who had nowhere else to turn. This was only possible and your incredible support.
We are so proud of how far we’ve come, and we couldn't have done it without your kindness, generosity and belief in our work. Our staff and volunteers showed extraordinary resilience and compassion throughout such an uncertain year, ensuring every animal continued to receive the care they deserved.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. 💙
While we are in a much stronger position than we were this time last year, ongoing support remains essential to protect our future and ensure we can always be here for abused and neglected animals across our local area.
If you’d like to find out more about our journey or make a donation to our ongoing campaign, please visit:
👉 https://www.rspcaleedsandwakefield.org.uk/thanks-to-you/