Around 40 staff will move from the RSPCA to fellow animal welfare charity PDSA as part of a “powerful” new partnership, which also involves a property transfer, the organisations have announced.
As part of the collaboration, the RSPCA will cease providing subsidised veterinary care to the public from 9 December this year, with PDSA taking over the service.
PDSA plans to acquire RSPCA’s Finsbury Park animal hospital in north London on 14 November for an undisclosed price, becoming the former’s 49th such facility, with the site’s around 40 staff being consulted on a transfer between the charities on the same pay and conditions.
RSPCA’s staff at its Birmingham, Greater Manchester, and Merthyr Tydfil sites will remain in post but will focus instead on supporting the charity’s frontline officers and treating more animals rescued from cruelty and neglect.
PDSA will offer services to pet owners at the three sites either by giving them access to its pet hospitals or providing alternative support through a £1m treatment fund, which both charities have contributed to equally.
‘A powerful partnership’
Chris Sherwood, chief executive of RSPCA, said: “This is a powerful partnership which helps both people and animals at a time when our services are needed more than ever due to the cost-of-living crisis.
“We are already seeing the devastating impact of the crisis with reports of abandoned animals up by almost a quarter, many of which involve animals with complex health issues which will need specialist vet care before we can find them loving new homes.
“By working together with PDSA we can both focus on our strengths, our core charitable objectives, and ours is rescuing the thousands of animals most in need, those who have no one else.”
Jan McLoughlin, director general of PDSA, said: “Collaborating with the RSPCA strengthens our position in the sector as the vet charity in the UK, and allows us to move closer to our vision of a society in which no pet suffers due to poverty, at a time when people need it most.
“With household budgets stretched to breaking point, expanding the reach of our vital work means we can help even more pets in need, and support those in financial hardship who would otherwise have nowhere to turn.
“We’re supported by the generosity of the pet-loving public and working in partnership with the RSPCA in carrying out their inspectorate work, where we have the capacity, allows donors’ money to go further. Amazing things can happen when charities work together, and the positive benefits of our work will impact pets, animals and people across the UK.”
‘More support for rescue officers’
In the longer term, selected PDSA pet hospitals will treat some of the 60,000 animals rescued by the RSPCA every year, in those locations with capacity to do so.
Caroline Allen, RSPCA’s chief veterinary officer, said: “RSPCA frontline rescue officers will be able to access more support from RSPCA vets in their challenging role, especially as the cost of living crisis intensifies and there will be more need for our help.
“Animals rescued from cruelty and neglect often have complex medical and behavioural needs. We will have increased capacity for more RSPCA rescued animals to be helped by our highly specialised veterinary teams.
“RSPCA vet teams will be able to help more animals in the community as we’ll be exploring extending our outreach work, building on some of the excellent preventative programmes already in place. This should help keep animals with their families instead of coming into our care.
“We will continue to work with private vets and remain very grateful for all the help and support, particularly during the current capacity challenges within the veterinary profession.”
‘Partnership will expand charities’ reach’
In Oldham and Stockport, new PDSA pet hospital catchment areas will be open to currently registered RSPCA clients only at first. In time, PDSA will also open these postcodes to new registrations, so they can reach more pets and owners in need.
PDSA is planning to invest in the upgrading and refurbishment of the Finsbury Park site and Manchester pet wellbeing centre.
Richard Hooker, director of veterinary services at PDSA, said: “This collaboration moves us closer towards our vision of a society in which no pet is denied veterinary care because their owner can’t afford it. It also underlines our belief that everyone, no matter their circumstances, has the right to experience the unconditional love and companionship of a pet.
“This partnership strengthens the strategic direction of both charities, enabling us both to expand our reach and benefit – and ensuring every pound donated works harder.”
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