£10,000 grant for Shropshire wildlife rescue centre
Shropshire's first purpose-built wildlife hospital has moved a step closer to reality after cash was provided to help fit out specialist rooms at the centre.
Cuan Wildlife Rescue in Much Wenlock has received a £10,000 grant from the RSPCA which will go towards fitting out mammal and bird rooms, the treatment room and animal kitchen at its new £100,000 hospital.
Staff have already started moving equipment from the centre's existing base on Barrow Street to the new hospital on Stretton Road on the opposite side of the town,although no date for the full move has yet been announced.
Megan Morris-Jones, the founder of the centre, said she was delighted to receive such support for the wildlife hospital project and said the demand for the centre's services had increased considerably over the past seven years.
Cuan Wildlife Rescue claims to be the only wildlife rescue centre operating 24 hours and seven days a week in Shropshire. Staff rescued, cared for and rehabilitated 1,739 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals and birds last year and need to raise £60,000 to meet their annual running costs.
The £10,000 grant has been provided on top of the regular standing order the RSPCA provides for the centre. Half of the grant has come from the Shropshire branch of the RSPCA and half from the charity's northern region headquarters.
Mrs Morris-Jones said: "For very many years now, the local Branch of the RSPCA have been extremely supportive of Cuan Wildlife Rescue.
"Each month, they give us a generous standing order which helps us considerably with our food and running costs.
"Now, we are additionally grateful as they have just granted us a most generous donation of £10,000 towards our new Wildlife Hospital.
"This will enable us to fit out the mammal and bird rooms, the treatment room and the animal kitchen with all work tops, cabinets, cupboards, sinks and storage facilities.
"It is a huge relief to know that the wildlife patients that come to us will be housed in the best new, safe, purpose-built facilities.
"In addition, when you consider that we need to store all different types of food for animals and birds ranging from bats to badgers and sparrows to swans, you will appreciate that we need an awful lot of storage space.
"We have always been proud to work with the Shropshire branch of the RSPCA and we work closely with the local inspectors and animal welfare officers regarding wildlife casualties.
"We are indeed truly indebted to the branch and region for their invaluable support to us to help complete what will be Shropshire's first ever purpose-built wildlife hospital."
The centre first opened in Much Wenlock 24 years ago.
