Mission Rabies and Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) have merged into one charity and become a subsidiary of Dogs Trust.
Dogs Trust has provided grants to both organisations for some years. In 2022 it provided £1.1m in grants to Mission Rabies and £720,000 to WVS. By merging, Dog’s Trust said its fundraising towards mutual goals would become easier and more “enhanced”.
The expansion of Dogs Trust’s international work, which WVS and Mission Rabies specialise in, is key to its “strategic ambitions”, the charity said.
Dogs Trust recorded an income of £119m in 2021. The acquisition of the subsidiary charity could increase its income by around £4m.
WVS, which registered as a charity 20 years ago, had a total income of £2.6m in 2021. Mission Rabies, created in 2013, recorded a total income £1.2m in 2021.
Dogs Trust said there would be no redundancies as a result of the takeover and neither of the other charities were at risk of closure.
‘It will significantly increase Dogs Trust’s international impact’
Owen Sharp, chief executive of Dogs Trust, said: “Working together will enable us to make a truly transformational difference to dog welfare and to save thousands of human lives as well.
“In addition, it will significantly increase Dogs Trust’s international impact and establish it as the world's truly global dog charity, with an international footprint spanning five continents.”
WVS and Mission Rabies will continue operating independently with a board of four non-executive directors both chaired by Sharp.
Luke Gamble, founder and chief executive of Mission Rabies and WVS, said: “It’s tremendously exciting to have this opportunity to really power on the international work of Dogs Trust. WVS and MR have always had a brilliant partnership with Dogs Trust and to now become officially adopted as part of the family is fantastic!
“We look forward to making a massive global impact, in terms of both rabies elimination and championing animal welfare in places that desperately need it.”
