Preston’s only animal rescue centre, the RSPCA Preston & District Branch, is facing imminent closure due to lack of funding. It is only a matter of weeks before the doors close for the last time.

If closed, the 126-year-old branch will have to rehouse hundreds of abandoned pets.

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You may have seen the Preston branch in the national news recently. It is affiliated to the National RSPCA, but not funded by them. They do not receive any government funding. They rely purely on public donations and the generosity of the community to keep the centre open. The RSPCA’s national office, which last year received £100 million, said recently that it would not help pay for the running costs of the Preston branch because it was a separate charity.

There was outrage when it was discovered that the national RSPCA sanctioned a “staggering” £326,000 to be spent on a prosecution against members of the Heythrop Hunt in Oxfordshire, with which David Cameron had attended in the past.

The Preston branch, which costs £600 a day to run,  only has funds to keep the centre running for another two months. Urgent appeals are going out for help.

This is not the first time the Preston branch has struggled financially, we reported back in March 2012 of how they were facing a shortfall in funds and an urgent fundraising appeal helped plug the gap in their finances.

The national RSPCA urges anyone who wishes to specifically support the branch’s excellent animal rehoming and rehabilitation work in and around the Preston area to donate to them directly and visit their website where they can do so.

The Preston RSPCA branch asks that you “consider making a donation TODAY, so we can continue to rehome and rehabilitate animals in and around Preston. Either a one-off donation or a monthly direct debit donation can be made and your money will go towards helping the sick and unwanted animals. Please don’t delay, as we are fast running out of time.”

You can donate to the RSPCA Preston & District Branch here DONATE