Archive - Thursday, 29 May 2003


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RSPCA is planning to merge

RSPCA branches in Cirencester and Stroud could merge to form a bigger, better service using thousands of pounds left in legacies.

The news follows the termination of the Cirencester committee at its annual meeting last week.

Cirencester chairman Mary Cassidy told the Standard: "Nine people on the committee retired after many hard years of work.

"You need seven people to form a quorum, but we could not get the people to take over - we only had three.

"The branch is now dissolved and the head office will take over the running of it.

"When Stroud has its annual meeting shortly, it will propose to merge with Cirencester, which is sensible."

She said the branch in Stroud has a free clinic, fund-raising shops and has its eye on a new animal home.

"The Cirencester branch has for years expected an RSPCA animal home to be built in southern parts of the Cotswolds that would serve five RSPCA branches - Cirencester, Stroud, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Hereford.

"This may now be possible with the help of neighbouring branches, legacies left to the charity, and monies from other branches," said Mrs Cassidy.

Two legacies have been left for the RSPCA in recent years.

"One was a legacy of £170,000 and the second was over £600,000.

"A lady in Chesterton Park also left £5,000 to the RSPCA for kindness shown to her and her dog during her lifetime.

"But we can't get the legacies yet. Head office is hanging onto them until a proper business plan is set out," said Mrs Cassidy.

Nigel Howard, RSPCA regional development manager, said the animal home could cost up to £2 million.

"But this is only a ball park. We don't know how big it will be or where it will be. It's a major project and it's still early days."

The Stroud branch will now be handling all calls for adoption or rehousing of animals temporarily.

Anybody with an animal emergency can still contact the main 24 hour control number - 0870 5555999 - for help.

The Stroud annual meeting is expected to take place at the end of June.