An overview of 2017 by the General Manager 

As a branch we continue to support the RSPCA Inspectorate and their work wholeheartedly and have started and will continue to offer animal spaces at the York Animal Home to the Inspectors as a priority and only taking animals from the public, when no inspector animal needs a rescue place. 68% of all animals were taken in to the York Animals Home from the Inspectors. 

In 2017 we have proactively dedicated some of our resources in ‘investing in the future of the branch’ and have consequently expanded our management team to provide a proactive presence amongst the communities we serve and volunteers who deserve our thanks and support. 

The new roles are:-

Branch Outreach Manager – responsible for running our fostering network and providing our services in the community, such as neutering of owned animals and providing responsible pet ownership lessons to schools in our area.

Branch Fundraiser – principally engaged in the larger fundraising projects with a  focus on corporate funding and grant applications, as well bringing some new and innovative fundraising ideas such as providing cream teas etc.

Volunteer Coordinator – started by overhauling our volunteer induction programme and provides support and core induction sessions to new volunteers. 

Finance Officer – The decision was made to bring all aspects our bookkeeping and financial management information production in house and the role of Finance Officer was created to support.

Branch Retail Manager (starting 5th January 2018) – Mick will be running our retail network and in time expanding the number of charity shops, earning funds for the branch in our wider branch area

Together with myself, the General Manager and Animal Centre Manager, we now have a formidable Senior Management Team to oversee all aspects of the running of the branch and to support the Strategic Objectives of the Trustee Board. 

During the year, the branch rehomed 500 animals, neutered 457 domestic animals, microchipped 407, supported 174 animal visits to our welfare clinic and rehabilitated and released 86 hedgehogs and fledglings through the year.

The York Animal Home staff continue to provide excellent care for the animals in residence and careful matching of adopters to animals is continuing to keep reducing the length of stay of animals to 70 days (2016 – 74 days)  for dogs and 60 days (2016 – 71 days) for cats.

We closed our Gillygate shop in March as it was no longer financially viable to keep it open . In August we opened a new charity shop in Acomb and a few months later new shop in Harrogate. Both are now starting to become established venues for the local charity shopper.

Of course, we are part of a larger family and supporters have helped the RSPCA National Society to achieve some notable successes this year:-

• Gaining government commitment that animals will continue to be recognised as sentient beings after Brexit.
• Tougher maximum prison sentences for animal offenders, increasing from just 6 months to 5 years 
• Mandatory CCTV in all slaughterhouses across England 
• Proposed end to the ivory trade

I am so proud to work with such  dedicated, hardworking team of people, who all have one goal: the improvement of the lives of animals who have been abandoned, neglected and cruelly treated, whether this by the expansion of our welfare work with the public or the rehabilitation of those that end up in our animal home.

We are nothing without our supporters – so thank you to all of you.

Angela Hunter, General Manager

You can still keep in touch with our activities by visiting our:-

Website www.rspca-yorkhome.org.uk 

Or our Facebook pages:- 

Friends of York Animal Home  

Animals For Adoption – York Animals Home

RSPCA York, Harrogate Branch – Harrogate  Area

RSPCA York, Harrogate Branch

Remember no matter where you live in our area that  

‘YORK ANIMALS HOME IS YOUR ANIMAL HOME’

No Appointment Necessary

We have no idea how the rumour started but there seems to be notion out there, that potential adopters have to make an appointment in order to start the adoption process, with us. This may be the case at other rescues but it certainly is not, nor never has been the case at the York Animals Home. 

Update January 2017: We have looked into this now and have examined how we explain the adoption process, so that any future adopters are clear that no appointment is needed. We are sorry for those of you who came away thinking that was the case. Please accept our apologies. It is true that potential adopters cannot have a look around the dog blocks but as many dogs as you need to meet, will be brought to you. As for the cats and small animals once you have an idea of who you want to meet, you are guided to the appropriate animal unit by a member of staff, who will talk to you about the cat / small animal, given their experience of the animal. We would like to thank those of you that came forward to comment, as it has helped us clarify the situation and put in place a clearer process.