RSPCA Leeds and Wakefield thank community a year after 'severe' financial crisis almost shut animal centre

The RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield and District Branch is marking one year since announcing a severe financial crisis that placed its Animal Centre at risk of closure.

The anniversary is a milestone that staff, volunteers and supporters at the East Ardsley branch once feared they might never reach.

Caroline Lewis-Jones, CEO of the RSPCA Leeds and Wakefield branch, has thanked supporters who have helped to keep their Animal Centre open.

placeholder image — Caroline Lewis-Jones, CEO of the RSPCA Leeds and Wakefield branch, has thanked supporters who have helped to keep their Animal Centre open.

In February last year, the branch launched its urgent #SaveOurAnimalCentre appeal after facing a critical shortfall in funding, caused by rising costs and reduced income.

The appeal sparked an overwhelming response from the local community, raising over £120,000 through donations, fundraising events and appeals, helping to keep the East Ardsley Animal Centre open at a time when closure was a very real possibility.

Last month, Aurora became the first dog to be rehomed since the branch was able to resume dog rehoming.

Alongside this, the branch also received notice of an extraordinary legacy gift, left in a willby a supporter who wanted their kindness to continue helping animals long into the future.

The charity has also thanked their staff, volunteers and the many local businesses and companies who stepped forward during the crisis, donating funds, organising workplace fundraisers, and rallying colleagues to support the appeal.

The branch stated that this corporate support was "instrumental” in helping it get through “one of the most difficult periods in its history”.

Due to the costs, the Wakefield centre was unable to rehome dogs directly for part of last year, however, it never stopped supporting them.

Megan Rattray, Animal Care Manager, with Zeus, the last dog to be adopted last year before the branch had to pause dog rehoming.

Its kennels continued to be used to care for National RSPCA dogs on a welfare basis, providing a safe place, training and support before dogs were transferred

to other centres for rehoming.

However, in January, Aurora became the first dog to be rehomed since the branch was able to resume dog rehoming, following the temporary pause.

Her adoption is said to represent a “significant step forward” for the self-funded local charity and a “moment of hope after an exceptionally challenging year”.

Caroline Lewis-Jones, CEO of the branch, said: “What a year! What a team effort! Everyone inside the charity and all our supporters who stood by us and gave us hope when our future looked in jeopardy.

"An enormous amount of money was raised, which has kept us going and into a brighter 2026 for all the animals that we did care for and all those yet to have shelter at our rescue centre.

“It could have been very different but ‘Thanks to you’ we are ‘Still Standing’ and ‘Still Fighting’ for the most abused animals in West Yorkshire.”

The centre has now launched a follow-up campaign, named #ThanksToYou that highlights the impressive work and fundraising supporters have done over the past year.

It also aims to tell the community that whilst the branch’s position is far stronger than it was a year ago, ongoing support remains essential to protect its future so they can continue to care for abused and neglected animals across Leeds, Wakefield and the surrounding areas.

Supporters can find out more about the branch’s journey and its ongoing #ThanksToYou campaign at: https://www.rspcaleedsandwakefield.org.uk/thanks-to-you/