Aug 5

Aug 5 Become an animal sponsor

I’d like to introduce you to my dogs. Or rather, some of my dogs.

Clockwise from top left, that’s loveable Norman the West Highland terrier; Barney who’s a lurcher and very sensitive; gentle, elderly Jax; Juniper, another lurcher who can be a bit nervous; cheeky Albie and Pepper the beagle pair, and affectionate St Bernard, Kira.

And before you think I’ve gone from one not-sure-if-I-actually-want-to-own-a-dog extreme to the other, I should just explain that when I refer to this four-legged gang as ‘my’ dogs, what they all actually are, are the dogs I have sponsored at the fabulous Wood Green Animal Rescue Centre.

I became a Wood Green sponsor two years ago and honestly, it’s one of the most rewarding charity contributions I make. For just £6 a month, I get a monthly report and update on the dogs that are being cared for in ‘my’ pen and the homes that are found for them.

I learn about their characters and challenges, the work that’s done to help them whilst they’re at Wood Green, and the efforts to find them new forever homes. I get a video of my pen dog and an update when they’ve been matched with their perfect new owner.

Frankly I’d say that’s pretty good value for £72 a year, wouldn’t you?

Of course, value isn’t what motivates me to support Wood Green and their wonderful work. Knowing that I’m able to play even the smallest part in improving the lives of dogs who, for a surprisingly wide variety of reasons, can no longer remain in their current homes, or have, sadly, been abandoned altogether, is all the incentive I need to happily keep renewing my monthly direct debit.

Well, that and the fridge magnet

To learn more about the work that Wood Green do - with a huge variety of animals from dogs and cats, to rabbits and even rats! - click here.

Of course Wood Green is very far from the only organisation caring for animals. And equally far from the only way that you can become a, much needed and appreciated, sponsor and make a difference to the wellbeing and protection of animals around the world.

This is just a small selection of some of those other ways:

Fancy adopting/sponsoring an orangutan or a moon bear? Or funding the protection of an Orca or an Ethiopian Wolf? These and many other wildlife sponsorships are available through Born Free, the animal welfare charity that was founded by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna .

Named after the film about their adoption of abandoned lioness cub Elsa, the charity’s mission is to ‘ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs.’ And you can help them do that for just £3 a month.

Dean Farm Trust rescues and provides a caring home for ill-treated, neglected and unwanted farm animals. An annual sponsorship costs £20 and if you choose their virtual, as opposed to postal, option, you get A personalised, signed certificate , a photo, fact sheet and profile for the animal resident you’ve chosen to support.

Hard to think of any more rewarding way to spend as little as £1 a week than to sponsor a puppy being trained to become a guide dog for the blind. Not only can you choose which one of your Guide Dog puppy recruits you want to sponsor, but once you do, you’ll get regular Pupdates (how adorable), access to your puppy’s exclusive Facebook group, and a gorgeous calendar at the end of each year. What’s not to love about that?

If your interest lies in wetlands and the animals and birds that inhabit these vital and threatened habitats, then you can support the work being done by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), which was founded by Peter, the son of Antarctic explorer Captain Scott.

You can choose from flamingos, otters, ducks and geese and sponsorship packages from £3 a month, for which you get a cuddly toy of your chosen animal or bird, an information pack and monthly updates.

Most zoos run adoption or sponsorship schemes and a quick google will bring up hundreds of different options for ways you can play a part in supporting the work being done to look after vulnerable, threatened and mis-treated animals and birds, as well as those being protected from the threat of extinction and peril.

Oh, and don’t forget what a brilliant gift a sponsorship or adoption makes!