Appeal for Volunteers

Algernon Trust Appeals For Volunteers

A local animal rescue & rehoming Sanctuary, the Algernon Trust in Whittlebury near Towcester, is appealing for people to help them, either by sparing a few hours each week to help care for the animals at the Sanctuary or to become foster carers.

The Animal Sanctuary was set up over twenty years ago when the founder Jane Shepherd moved to Whittlebury near Towcester. For the first eleven years it was a purely private enterprise paid for entirely out of her own pocket.

As the Sanctuary grew over the years, and having exhausted all of her personal finances, the Algernon Trust was established in 2001 as a non-profit organisation in order to raise funds to keep the shelter going. In 1991 Jane arrived with just five feral cats, one fox and one rabbit. Today there are usually at least sixty cats, twelve dogs, plus foxes and assorted poultry in the Trusts care.  Jane also provides a wildlife rescue service 24hours a day 52 weeks a year.

The Trust re-homes cats and dogs where possible but many of the cats Jane takes in are sick and/or elderly who need to remain at the Sanctuary for the rest of their days. Currently there are over thirty residents. The Trust has become as much a hospice and retirement home for cats as a re-homing centre, and caring for sick and elderly feline friends puts an enormous strain on the Trusts finances.

Animals are taken in from a wide area not just from Northampton shire and adjacent counties but from all over the country.  The Trust has a strict “no kill” policy and Jane has no age restriction and has taken in cats over 20 years old.  All animals are neutered or spayed and micro chipped before being rehomed.

The Trust only has 4 kennels, all donated, plus the old ferret pen for emergencies.  Foster homes are relied on to provide temporary care for dogs awaiting a forever home, however often it is necessary to keep dogs at private boarding kennels to ensure they are not put to sleep when the Sanctuary is full.  The kennels are paid for by the Trust.  Foster carers make a huge difference, not only does this reduce the cost of boarding kennels but it enables the dogs to live in a home environment until such time that they find their forever homes, foster carers provide love and food for the dogs and the Trust provides support and also covers vets bills.

Jane relies on volunteers to help at the sanctuary with feeding and cleaning out all the animals and dog walking.  Rachel is one such volunteer and this is her experience of volunteering:

“Volunteering at the Algernon Trust began, for me, in summer 2012. I met Jane while she was boarding some of her dogs at the kennels where I work at and was immediately drawn by her passion and commitment to the cause. Viewing the Trust website, I looked at all the other dogs & cats needing homes but also the animals that had already been rescued & homed by her and was very impressed at the amount of good work she had managed to do as a standalone, small rescue.

While at work, I became very attached to one of Algernon’s rescue dogs and soon took to walking him on my lunch breaks, taking him out on my days off and progressing with his training. The joy this bought me, and to then see him go to a loving home, made me determined to do all I could to help other animals in his situation.

Unfortunately, due to tenancy, I am unable to have a pet of my own so volunteering with Algernon has given me a great alternative way of spending time with the dogs, enjoying walks and adding (in a small but important way!) to their welfare.

Volunteering has also been extremely rewarding to me in terms of seeing how a dog can progress from a timid, abused rescue case in to a happy and confident family pet, not only enriching the animal’s life but also that of the new family who have been kind enough to adopt a new pet.

I have also met, and made friends with, many like minded animal lovers at the Sanctuary which has been very helpful for me for two reasons. Firstly, it has given me the opportunity to get more involved in work others do for Algernon by joining online networks for all sorts of animal related advice, home checking and transport runs. This gives me lots of options for ways in which to help, not only can I help out on a practical level by walking and cleaning the dogs but also can find contacts, gather advice and share details with others from home on days I cannot get to the Sanctuary in person. Secondly, I was quite a shy, quiet person and found it hard to meet to new people but it was so easy when you realise everyone has one common goal, to help the animals!

I would encourage anyone with some spare time and empathy for rescued and abused animal to get involved and do some volunteer work. It really is so rewarding and I am privileged to be part of the Algernon Trust!”

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer or foster carer can contact Jane on 01327 858238

www.facebook.com/algernontrust