Cotswold animal shelters: What happens to animals during lockdown?

What happens to rescued animals during a pandemic? We visited some of our best-loved shelters across the Cotswolds to see what they - and their carers - have been up to

Herrman, the Eagle owl at Vale Wildlife Hospital (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

The coronavirus crisis had a huge impact on our animal shelters. Unable to have face-to-face viewings, many animals in their care couldn’t go through the usual adoption process, putting great strain on the charities’ finances and denying the animals the chance of a new loving home. Also, of course, all the charity shops run by the shelters had to be closed in March and fundraising events cancelled, so cutting off other essential sources of income.

Now, more than ever, the shelters need our help, so please do consider making a donation... and maybe even giving a forever home to one of their charges!

• Cotswolds Dogs & Cats Home

• Teckels

• Blue Cross

• Cheltenham Animal Shelter

• Oak and Furrows

• Vale Wildlife

Bobby the Emu, with another emu and a rhea at Vale Wildlife Hospital (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

Blackbird chicks waiting to be fed, at Vale Wildlife Hospital (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

Anj Saunders with a one-month-old wood pigeon, which has been hand fed regularly at Oak and Furrows since a chick, and will be released back into the wild at around two-to-three months old, when it's flight is strong enough (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

Emily Bedson, a trainee wildlife care assistant, Rosie Healy-York and Georgina Lewis, wildlife care assistants, who have all been working at Vale Wildlife through lockdown. The centre has treated 2,192 animals up to May 2020, more than the same period in 2019, which was a record year for patient numbers (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

Anj Saunders tends to a newly arrived hedgehog at Oak and Furrows, brought to the centre by a member of the public. The centre has had more hedgehogs than usual brought in by the public over lockdown, but in Winter, can have 250 being cared for (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

Nikole Cateaux-Newcombe, a feline rehomer at Cheltenham Animal Shelter, being greeted by Homer, a two-year-old cat, who has been hoping for a new home since before lockdown (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

A two-month-old Roe deer, one of three being cared for at Oak and Furrows, until they are released back into the wild together, at around five or six months (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

Annabelle Vaney with Bonnie, a 13.2 hand, six-year-old cobb, Jess Hall with Fairy, a 15.1 hand thoroughbred, and Chloe Curtis with Aperlo, a 13 hand, three-year-old cobb, all companion horses at Blue Cross Burford, hoping for new owners (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

Sarah Johnson, manager of Teckels, and Skye Wardle, a kennel assistant, cuddling Chico the Yorkie, and his best friend Crystal the chihuahua, both nine years old, who need a new home together (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

Alex Chung, senior animal leader at Cheltenham Animal Shelter, with Rogue, a three-year-old Akita, due to go to a new home soon (photo: Antony Thompson/Thousand Word Media) (Image: © Thousand Word Media)

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