Merger saves animal rescue centre (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Merger saves animal rescue centre

4:22pm Saturday 3rd May 2008 in News By Andy Woolfoot

AN ANIMAL rescue centre which was facing homelessness has now found a new base by merging with another rescue centre.

The Cotswold Animal and Wild Bird Rescue was told several months ago it would have to leave its current premises on Beeches Road, Cirencester.

Childrens charity the Cirencester Opportunity Group, which is adjacent to the centre, wrote just before Christmas to say it needed the land back in order to expand the premises.

The charity was left with the option of folding but was saved this week when The Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre, based in Somerford Keynes, offered to allow the centre to be incorporated into them.

Cotswold Animal and Wild Bird Rescue manager Paul Richardson explained: "We are still on call but the Cotswold Animal and Wild Bird Rescue is no longer in existence. We are in the process of being handed over.

"We had 1,700 calls last year and we haven't got time to dig around for a new place or erect sheds and so on. That is why we thought it was best to hand everything over to another rescue centre charity - vehicles, money, the lot."

Serena Stevens, manager of the Oak and Furrows, said: "We are all more than happy to welcome the volunteers from the Wild Bird Rescue centre and glad they will be able to carry on delivering their important work."

The few remaining animals at the centre, four cockerels, four small hens and a gander, a desperately in need of new homes so the remaining equipment can be transported.

Anyone who wishes to accommodate one of the birds or wishes to report an animal in need of rescue can do so by calling Paul Richardson on 07811 629846 or The Oak and Furrows on 01285 862439.