'I'm drowning in vet debt'- a local Wigan animal shelter is in desperate need of funds to survive with £1.15 left
The owner of a Wigan cat rescue organisation has made a desperate plea for help on social media.
PawPurrs Halfway House which has a charity shop on Ladies Lane, Hindley, has launched an urgent appeal after £15,000 of vet debt has led to there being only £1.15 left in the bank with 76 cats in their care.
Founder member Katie Hayes, says potential closure beckons if outstanding vet bills are not paid.
In a post on Facebook, Katie said: “I genuinely don’t know what more I can do at this point and I’m being completely honest because people deserve transparency.
We are now in a really serious situation with one of our vet bills. It has gone unpaid for over 6 months and I’m terrified we are now at the point of possible court action and potentially even a CCJ against us. I cannot explain the level of panic and stress this is causing me right now.
Every single time money has come in, I have had to make impossible decisions. I’ve paid what I believed were the most urgent and immediate priorities at the time, emergency surgeries, sick cats needing treatment, critical cases that could not wait, food, medication, lifesaving care. In doing that, I’ve had to leave some other vet bills on the back burner and now it’s all catching up with us.
I know people probably think rescues get loads of funding, but we really don’t. We are constantly firefighting crisis after crisis whilst still trying to care for so many cats who rely on us every single day. Right now there are 76 cats under Pawpurrs’ care, poorly cats, recovering cats, ferals, long term residents, cats waiting for homes, cats needing medication and ongoing treatment. They all still need feeding, cleaning, medicating and caring for regardless of what is happening financially.
But the truth is… I am drowning in vet debt and I am genuinely frightened now. I need a miracle. Not a few pounds here and there this time, but serious help to try and bring these debts down before things get even worse.
Thank you to everyone who continues to stand by us. I honestly don’t think people realise how close to breaking point rescue work can push you.”
To give some much-needed help, head to: https://www.pawpurrs.org.uk/donations