Last Hope animal charity makes last-ditch appeal for volunteers

Ther Last Hope Animal Charity (LHAC), which rescues animals in need, has been forced to suspend services due to a shortage of volunteers. The charity was founded several years ago by a small team of volunteers who saw the demand for an organisation specifically tailored to animals in need. Ailish Crehan of LHAC said this week: "The organisation has grown in demand but not really in size and the demands faced by the volunteers on a daily basis have grown to levels beyond our means. This has left us with a tough decision - to suspend our services until we can recruit more volunteers." The aim of LHAC is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome injured, stray and unwanted animals. "We do not have a kennels or a base so we rely on volunteers to take animals in to their own homes," she said. "When we have foster space available, we try to help the Meath Dog Pound as much as is possible, taking out dogs that haven't been lucky enough to find their forever homes during their stay there. We do not take in surrendered dogs unless in exceptional circumstances but we will help to rehome a dog through our website and Facebook page. "We also work with the dog warden - if the warden is not available to pick up a stray dog, we will pick the dog up and hold it until a time when the warden is available. If a stray dog is not physically fit enough to go to the pound, they will stay in foster care and get the medical treatment they need." The charity has been operating via its website, www.lasthope.ie, its email admin@lasthope.ie and its helpline, (085) 717 2024. "Our helpline is operated by one person who then contacts the volunteers to see who is available," added Ailish. "But the list of volunteers is a short one and our list of fosterers is even shorter. We are now unable to take in any more animals until we have a strong team of foster homes and volunteers available to help us," she said. In the past week alone, Last Hope received three separate calls about injured cats. Two of these cats had been critically injured after being hit by cars. One was left to die on the side of a road, ignored by passers-by. It survived, but the other two didn't live. "We took in three puppies that were in shocking condition - they each were thin and had heavy worm burdens, a potentially life-threatening situation if left untreated," Ailish said. "We also took in four two-week-old kittens that were rejected by their inexperienced mother. These kittens need around-the-clock bottle feeding with kitten formula milk." In July, Last Hope's 'For A Fiver' campaign started. It involves a number of people who each month buy €5 worth of pet supplies, be it food, bedding, litter trays, litter, blankets and they meet member Amy McLoughlin in various locations across Meath and surrounding areas. She takes the food into storage. "We now have an abundance of food and bedding, toys and blankets, treats and snacks for the animals in care. So if anyone wants to foster a dog or a cat, all food and bedding is provided," she added.