Birmingham leaps and bounds into new era with latest appeal

10.10.11

The RSPCA in Birmingham is preparing to leap and bound into a new era in the midlands with the building of a new flagship animal centre and hospital.

After nearly half a century at the current Barnes Hill site and almost 150 years of dedication to suffering animals in Birmingham, a flagship centre and hospital is being built at Newbrook Farm, Frankley.

The new development in the heart of the midlands will be the only RSPCA facility in the country which offers both an animal centre and hospital.

Launch of Leaps and Bounds

We’ve launched our Leaps and Bounds appeal to raise three million pounds towards the cost of the 10 million pound facility. The need couldn’t be greater with our inspectors coming to the rescue of over 6,000 animals last year in the West Midlands, making it the busiest area outside Greater London.

Birmingham Animal Hospital is one of only four RSPCA hospitals in the country. Committed staff face a daily battle to cope with the number of animals that require veterinary care.

41,000 treatments were administered last year alone and yet an additional £1.2 million had to be spent paying for animals to be treated at private vets due to the hospital being full. At the new hospital, it is hoped that many more of these animals will be able to be treated by RSPCA vets.

With Barnes Hill located next to a busy dual carriageway in an area with high levels of crime, animal centre staff also work under immense pressure caring for neglected and unloved animals in conditions which have deteriorated since 1962.

An exciting new era for animal welfare

Last year staff at Birmingham Animal Centre found new homes for 1,257 animals but this figure would have been higher if more kennel and cattery space had been available, with many animals spending time in private boarding at a cost to the RSPCA before space became available at Barnes Hill.

However, an exciting new era for animal welfare in the west midlands is on the horizon as building work recently began at Frankley: a 72 acre site in a beautiful, rural location, 3.8 miles from Barnes Hill. Situated on what used to be a prison service rare breeds farm and visitor centre.

The new build will have increased space and improved facilities to care for, rehabilitate and rehome more animals than ever before.

The flagship facility will provide:

• cattery space for 160 cats
• kennels for 60 dogs 
• increased space for our small animals including rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and birds 
• larger and well equipped animal hospital 
• isolation facilities for sick animals
• night arrival centre for animals rescued out of hours 
• education and training centre, visitor centre and cafe 
• more outside space for staff and volunteers to exercise and rehabilitate our animals especially dogs

 

Full of excitement about the plans is the Leaps and Bounds Capital Appeal manager, Adam Rickitt. The former actor and singer relished taking up the challenge of working for his favourite animal charity in order to raise additional funds for this much needed new facility.
 

This unique new animal centre and hospital will greatly enhance our ability to prevent animal cruelty and care for those animals suffering from neglect.

This flagship facility in Birmingham is the embodiment of all the RSPCA stands for. It will be the only site in the country that can complete the full journey for an animal in our care from rescue, remedy, rehabilitation to rehoming.

There is no other charity in England like the RSPCA, the inspectorate and all they achieve makes us unique. Sadly the demands on our services in the west midlands are increasing all the time so there is a real need for updated facilities and additional space so we can help more animals when they need us most.

 

Leap and bound into action

To donate/support the Leaps and Bounds appeal visit: www.leapsandboundsappeal.org.uk
 

Alternatively telephone 0300 123 8001 or text leap12 to 70070.

Thank you.