01.04.26
Naturewatch Foundation’s Pet Rescue Grant helps fund frontline animal welfare projects in the UK that directly help with the rescue or rehabilitation of dogs, cats, and rabbits affected by the illegal pet trade. It’s made possible by our wonderful supporters, and we’re delighted to introduce you to the recipients of the Pet Rescue Grant 2026!
The One Wish Dog Foundation
Founded in 2025 by a small (but mighty!) team of dog lovers, The One Wish Dog Foundation rescues and rehomes unwanted and abandoned dogs in the Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire areas.
They provide love and sanctuary to dogs in need, with the goal of finding their forever homes. They’re a foster-based rescue, and since their creation in June 2025, they have taken in 36 dogs. These were mostly strays and welfare cases, and many were sadly facing uncertain futures.
As well as rescuing and rehoming, they offer a temporary care service for dogs whose owners are facing hardship. Despite not yet having their own kennels, they have been able to respond to emergencies such as owners who have lost their homes overnight with nowhere for their dogs to go and owners fleeing domestic violence, who require sanctuary for their dogs while they find safety for themselves and their children.
As a small charity with big ambitions, they promise to transform as many lives as they can, one dog at a time.
We’re delighted to award The One Wish Dog Foundation a grant of £6,000 to pay for the veterinary treatment for four dogs impacted by the pet trade. Tally (pictured before and after), who had a dreadful start in life and was repeatedly used for breeding, needs a cruciate operation, which the grant will help fund, as well as her spay and post-operative physiotherapy.
Images courtesy of The One Wish Dog Foundation
Charlie, Bonnie and Ruby will also benefit. They are three cockapoos who were cruelly abandoned, believed to have come from a local puppy farm. When they arrived with One Wish they were incredibly shut down and showing signs of fear-based aggression. Thanks to the dedication of One Wish volunteers, they are progressing wonderfully. The grant will fund spays for Bonnie and Ruby and a neuter for Charlie to ensure they can’t be exploited by the pet trade again – they’ll also receive their vaccinations and parasite treatment.
Jenna Jones (pictured with Charlie), founder of The One Wish Dog Foundation, said, “To Naturewatch Foundation and supporters, we want to express our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for awarding us a Pet Rescue grant. Your support means more than words can say.
“For dogs like Bonnie, Ruby, Charlie and Tally, who endured fear, exploitation and neglect before arriving at One Wish, this funding is truly life-changing. Thanks to your generosity, they will receive the vital medical care, treatment and rehabilitation they need to finally step into a future defined not by trauma, but by safety, comfort and love. You are helping rewrite their stories, and we are profoundly grateful.
“As a small and newly founded charity, we pour our hearts into every dog who needs us. This grant is not only a financial lifeline; it is a moment of recognition that the work we are doing matters. It strengthens our resolve, fuels our mission, and reminds us that we are not alone in fighting for dogs who have been failed by humans in the worst ways.
“Your belief in our project enables us to continue saying “yes” to the dogs who need us most; the frightened ones, the broken ones, the ones who have been discarded by the illegal breeding trade. Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for standing with them.”
Tiny Paws MCR
Tiny Paws MCR is a vegan-run, home-based small animal rescue in Manchester, founded in 2019. They rescue, rehabilitate and rehome rodents and rabbits, 
prioritising their right to live free from harm and as naturally as possible in captivity.
They promote spacious habitats, species-appropriate diets and responsible adoption, providing lifelong support to adopters. They firmly oppose the breeding and selling of rabbits and rodents, as it perpetuates the cycle of exploitation.
Their mission is to educate, advocate for animal rights and create a compassionate world where small animals are treated with respect and dignity.
Tiny Paws MCR have been awarded a grant of £4,000 to support the rescue and rehabilitation of approximately 14 rabbits through their Rabbit Refuge. The grant will help ensure each rabbit is neutered and vaccinated prior to rehoming. Tiny Paws MCR ensures all adopters meet minimum welfare standards and can provide a minimum of 60 sq ft in space for a bonded pair. They also ensure each rabbit is bonded with at least one other rabbit and provide adopters with lifetime support and advice.
Image courtesy of Tiny Paws MCR
Founder, Suzi Wright, said, “Thank you so much to Naturewatch Foundation for awarding us this amazing grant!”
The Neuter Project
The Neuter Project was set up to help small independent rescues, sanctuaries and fosterers by offering free neutering for the animals in their care so that vital funds can be used elsewhere. They are a non-profit group of veterinary volunteers who give up their free time to neuter.
The Neuter Project is an RCVS-registered and insured veterinary practice kitted out to do the job. The project has been built in stages over the past few years and continues to grow and improve. Their aim is to work together to reduce the unnecessary killing of unwanted pets simply because there are not enough homes for them.
There are no official statistics on the number of stray and healthy animals put to sleep every year as there are no requirements for such records to be kept. Estimates suggest around 20,000 healthy dogs are euthanised every year in UK shelters. There are around 81,000 stray or abandoned animals in the UK. The Neuter Project aims to reduce this one animal at a time.
The Neuter Project have been awarded a mini-grant of £1,000 to help them purchase consumables for the free neutering they provide to rescue charities. As all of their veterinary professionals are volunteers, the money can stretch a long way, potentially helping many dogs, cats and rabbits through neutering and spaying.
Founder of The Neuter Project, Angie Hamp (pictured with certificate), said, “A massive thank you to Naturewatch Foundation for awarding The Neuter Project £1,000 Pet Rescue Grant. This means so much to us. The money is equivalent to around two months’ running cost for us. To give you an idea of how far this will go £1000 will neuter 50 cats, 10 to 20 dogs or around 30 rabbits and guinea pigs.
“We neuter over 400 animals a year helping 50 independent rescues so far with over 50 veterinary volunteers coming together to help these rescues. To date, we have neutered 1682 animals saving rescues over £250,000. This Pet Rescue Grant is massive to us.”
Thank YOU for making the Pet Rescue Grant possible
This year, we received a record 161 expressions of interest for the Pet Rescue Grant, highlighting how much rescue centres are struggling at the moment and the difference you are making.
Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to help three incredible organisations with their vital work. Together, we are making a real difference for animals affected by the illegal pet trade.
Find out more about Naturewatch Foundation’s work to end low welfare and illegal breeding and selling here.
