Heswall Dog Rescue – Heswall Animal Welfare Society

Heswall Animal Welfare Soceity is a Heswall dog rescue organisation dedicated to the welfare and rehabilitation of abandoned, mistreated and neglected dogs across the Wirral area. As one of the leading dog rescue centres in the region, they provide important services like rescuing dogs from bad situations, rehabilitating them through vet care and training, and finding them loving new homes through adoption. Their work has made a big positive impact, saving many dogs and improving animal welfare in the local community.

You can call them on

0151 342 3022

Organisations like this are very important for dealing with the large number of stray and abandoned dogs in the UK. Over 92,000 stray or abandoned dogs were handled by councils last year. Without specialised rescues like this Heswall Dog Rescue society, these dogs would not have good options. The rescue’s mission gives dogs who have suffered abuse, trauma or neglect a second chance.

History of Heswall Dog Rescue

Heswall Dog Rescue first started operating in 2008. It was founded by a group of local dog lovers and animal welfare volunteers. They saw that many stray and neglected dogs in the Wirral area needed help.

Since being founded, the rescue has grown a lot. In 2013, they moved to larger custom facilities. This allowed them to rescue and rehabilitate more dogs. An important milestone was in 2016 when they opened a vet clinic on-site with full-time vets to treat the dogs.

Mission and Vision

The main mission of Heswall Dog Rescue is to give stray, abandoned and neglected dogs in the area a second chance at a happy life in a forever home. Their vision is for a community where animal welfare is very important and no dogs have to suffer abuse, trauma or abandonment.

To achieve this mission, their goals include:

• Rescuing as many dogs as possible from bad situations of abandonment, abuse and neglect.
• Providing expert behavioural rehabilitation and vet care to help the dogs recover.
• Running an adoption programme to find permanent loving homes for the rescued dogs.
• Raising awareness on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership in the community.
• Being a leading voice in advocating for improved animal rights and policies in the region.

By working hard towards these goals every day, Heswall Dog Rescue aims to have a real positive impact on dogs’ lives and community animal welfare.

Process for Rescuing At-Risk Dogs

Heswall Dog Rescue follows a coordinated process for rescuing dogs who have been abandoned, mistreated or left stray. Their team is very experienced at safely getting dogs out of dangerous situations.

• Identification – They work with the public, councils and partner rescues like Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre and North Clwyd Animal Rescue to identify dogs in bad situations who need rescue.
• Securing & Transport – The rescue team is skilled at carefully taking dogs from places like illegal breeding facilities and transporting them safely to the rescue centre.
• Vet Care – Upon arrival, the dogs get a full vet exam and any required medical treatment. Sick, injured and malnourished dogs get 24/7 treatment.
• Rehabilitation – Behaviour experts put the dogs through tailored rehab programmes with walks, play, training and socialising to build up their confidence, health and skills.

The rescue centre’s facilities and staff allow them to run this thorough rescue process efficiently while ensuring excellent canine care.

Adoption Programme

The most important part of Heswall Dog Rescue’s work is carefully matching their rescued dogs to forever homes through adoption. Their home finding team closely reviews adopter applications to ensure each dog goes to a suitable home.

Some key parts of their adoption process include:

• Reviewing adopters’ capability, experience and home environment to care for a rescue dog.
• Introductions between dogs and potential adopters to check compatibility.
• Mandatory home visits before adoption to ensure the home meets their standards.
• Follow-ups after adoption to ensure positive adjustment and welfare.
• Lifelong return policy – adopters can return dogs if circumstances change.

Their thorough process has enabled hundreds of successful adoptions. Many families consider their rescue dogs much loved members of their home.

Volunteers

The rescue centre relies on the dedication of their team of volunteers who generously donate their time and skills. Volunteers assist across all areas:

• Dog walking and socialising.
• Supporting behavioural rehabilitation programmes.
• Fostering dogs.
• Administrative work, fundraising coordination and community outreach.
• Transporting dogs.
• Maintenance work and improvements at the rescue facilities.

Volunteering provides a rewarding way to directly help animal welfare. The rescue is always welcoming new volunteers.

Funding and Donations

As a registered charity, Heswall Dog Rescue relies mostly on donations and grants to fund their work. A common misunderstanding is that most animal rescues get government funding, when most rely on public support.

There are several ways individuals and businesses can provide important contributions:

• One time or recurring money donations. Even small amounts help!
• Volunteering time and skills as described above.
• Donating goods like pet food, medication, bedding and toys.
• Participating in and sponsoring fundraising events.
• Leaving the rescue a legacy in your will.
• Promoting the rescue on social media and in local news.

Every form of contribution allows the rescue to expand their impact.

Challenges Faced

While the Heswall Dog Rescue team finds their mission highly rewarding, their important work faces considerable challenges:

• Limited resources – dog rescues typically have tight budgets relying heavily on unpredictable donations and grants.
• Staff and volunteer fatigue – caring for rescued dogs with complex needs can be draining.
• Changing laws and policies – shifting animal rights laws and breed-specific rules bring uncertainty and barriers.
• Ongoing stray dog population – the rescue centre frequently reaches full capacity, while more dogs in the community need help.
• Negative stereotypes around rescue dogs – misconceptions about behavioural issues discourage potential adopters.

Despite the difficulties, the committed team perseveres, constantly finding innovative ways to maximise their impact and provide the highest quality care. These challenges can be overcome through strong community support.

In summary

Heswall Animal Welfare Soceity is a Heswall dog rescue organisation that provides an invaluable service to the Wirral community by rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming dogs in need. Support from animal lovers is crucial to enable their important work to continue. There are many ways we can help drive progress for animal welfare and create brighter futures for abandoned dogs, such as adopting, volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness. The dogs of Heswall Dog Rescue await the day every canine in the community can experience the love they deserve in a caring forever home.

Also see our related articles:

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• Best dog friendly pubs / cafes in Wirral

• Birkenhead kennels