New site for RSPCA centre
By Leah Waller
An animal charity that specialises in finding lovely new homes for abandoned pets has finally been treated to a bespoke new base – after a 10 year wait.
The RSPCA branch which covers Leeds and Wakefield has bought new premises after renting accommodation for the past decade.
The new hub, in East Ardsley, is due to open at the end of spring and comes with ten kennels, fifteen blocks in the cattery, a small animals unit with four spaces and fifteen isolation blocks for the animals.
Caroline Lewis-Jones, branch manager, said: “The new centre is modest in comparison to other centres, but it’s lovely for us and for the local area. Renting private boarding kennels is very costly whereas having new premises will give us control over costs and means we can offer more services.”
The charity is currently based in a temporary business park in Tingley, after its old centre on Kirkstall Road was turned into a shopping centre.
The money raised from the sale of the old premises was set aside, and along with charity donations, will go towards paying for the new centre.
The new facility had to fit strict criteria such as size and low noise pollution, which is why finding suitable premises has taken a decade, but the branch is confident it has finally found somewhere that fits the bill.
RSPCA fundraiser Lauren Moore, 27, believes the new centre is highly important for the branch, and stresses that it could not have been achieved without support from the local community.
The animals will be in their new home just in time for RSPCA Week, a series of fundraising events, which start on June 1.
Miss Moore said: “RSPCA Week is to raise awareness and funds for local RSPCA branches, people can donate by text or in person, we have to raise our own funds to keep our animal centre going.”
The money raised will provide new equipment for the East Ardsley centre, such as leads, bowls and bedding, in time for the furry residents to settle in to their new home.