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HISTORY OF THE SHELTER
Where did we come from and why? This is a very common question and here is a quick overview of our history.
The Shelter is a 'Charitable Trust'. This differs from a more normal charity in that it was founded by a very kind lady in the 1920's who left a property on Deane Road to be used for the purpose of caring for the 'destitute' cats and dogs of Bolton.
We moved from the Deane Road house some time later to our now famous address at Vernon Street where we stayed until the 1970's. The philosophy underlying the running of Vernon Street was appropriate for the times in which it operated. That is, stray dogs and cats were brought to us and cared for for seven days during which time their owners could claim them. There then followed a further seven days of care during which a new home was actively sought for the animal. After the elapse of these fourteen days, the abandoned animal was then put to sleep. All of this seems horrific to us living today in what we hope are more enlightened times. What we have to remember is that public opinion has undergone a drastic change over the last twenty to thirty years regarding animal welfare.
In the 1970's we moved to our present site, Northolt Drive, with a committee which was still operating on the above principles and the new shelter was envisaged as being of sufficient size for the very short term, fourteen day period of care. As a consequence, we unfortunately have inherited a shelter which is too small for our modern day principles of animal welfare, has no grass runs and no areas for exercising the animals. We have gradually moved our basic philosophy over the years to our present position of caring for every cat and dog brought to us for whatever period of time it takes until a new home is found for the animal.
Sadly sometimes animals are put to sleep but only when veterinary advice calls for this. On a far happier note, many thousands of destitute animals are given shelter and care, sometimes for weeks, sometimes for months at Northolt Drive and then find warm, loving homes with new owners. This is a record we feel very proud of. We hope you agree. |
