03/04/2025
Now in its second year, the Pet Rescue Grant exists to support frontline animal rescues with the costs of caring for dogs, cats and rabbits who’ve been exploited for profit by the illicit pet trade.
After receiving a whopping 100 applications for our Pet Rescue Grant 2025, we are pleased to announce four fantastic rescues have been awarded grants, thanks to the kindness of you – our brilliant supporters. Meet them below!
The Bunnyjackpot Foundation
The Bunnyjackpot Foundation has been awarded a grant of £5,000 to support the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of up to ten rabbits who have been impacted by the illicit pet trade – aka ‘The Naturewatch Ten’.
Formed in 2022, The Bunnyjackpot Foundation rescues and rehabilitates small animals across the UK. Headquartered in the South-West of England, the charity is a foster-based rescue entirely staffed by volunteers. The Bunnyjackpot Foundation is committed to the highest standards of small animal care and has so far rehomed over 450 animals since its inception.
Founder, Heather Medley, said, “Here at The Bunnyjackpot Foundation, we are truly grateful to Naturewatch Foundation for choosing us as a recipient for this grant. This funding will go such a long way to providing care to rabbits coming in from various circumstances linked to the horrors of the pet trade. With this grant, we will be able to make a tangible difference to ten rabbits who we will introduce one by one and share their stories and how this funding has impacted the rest of their lives for the better. Thank you Naturewatch Foundation – we cannot wait to introduce the world to The Naturewatch Ten.”
Hope Rescue
Hope Rescue has been awarded a grant of £5,000 to help with veterinary costs for dogs seized from illegal breeding.
Hope Rescue, based in South Wales, takes in stray, abandoned, unwanted and neglected dogs. They are a non-selective rescue and take strays from six local authorities in Wales. They also work tirelessly to help dogs who have been seized from low-welfare and illegal breeding, whose rehabilitation and rehoming can often take many months due to court proceedings. Beyond their hands-on rescue work, Hope Rescue actively campaigns for dog welfare improvements, with their most recent success leading to the Welsh Government’s commitment to ending greyhound racing in Wales. They are currently celebrating their 20th anniversary.
Sarah Williams from Hope Rescue said, “We continue to experience an increase in the number of seized dogs we have taken in from low welfare or illegal breeders, with seizures of 30-plus dogs being common. If the owner does not sign over these dogs, they may be with us for a considerable time, pending a court decision.
“The welfare costs of caring for these particularly vulnerable dogs have resulted in a vast increase in our veterinary costs. The grant we have received will assist Hope Rescue in managing these costs, and we are incredibly appreciative of this donation.
“We are also caring for increased numbers of dogs with health and behaviour problems coming through our doors. These dogs stay with us longer as many need prolonged veterinary treatment due to previously untreated health conditions, as well as socialisation and behavioural issues. Sadly, many have never experienced a caring domestic environment. Our intake increased by 29% from the previous year, and we increased the number of dogs rehomed by 34%.
“During these unprecedented and challenging times, we are so appreciative of your generous support.”
Second Chance Spaniel Rescue
Second Chance Spaniel Rescue (SCSR) has been awarded a mini-grant of £1,000 to pay for the neutering of three ex-breeding spaniels.
Second Chance Spaniel Rescue was founded in 2019 to save, care, support and rehome spaniels in the UK. They are a volunteer-run rescue and aim to secure permanent, loving homes for the dogs they take into their care. They are a non-destructive, non-profit rescue whose purpose is to assess, rehabilitate and rehome. In 2025, they will surpass helping over 1,000 spaniels find their forever homes since their inception.
The rescue specialises in spaniels as these dogs are so commonly misunderstood due to their breed-specific requirements. Having been purposefully bred over the years to be gun dogs, sniffer dogs, search and rescue, drug detection dogs and so much more, spaniels have given us humans so much. They are the most loving, fun and smart dogs who love unconditionally, while remaining steadfast and loyal to their owner or family.
Second Chance Spaniel Rescue offer these amazing spaniels a fresh start and a chance to pair them with forever homes that can meet their needs. The rescue takes its roles very seriously and dedicates its time to ensuring these spaniels receive the support they need and go to loving and caring homes.
SCSR volunteer, Amelia Allerton, said, “Thank you so much to Naturewatch Foundation and your brilliant supporters. As a small volunteer-run rescue, we work incredibly hard to help as many spaniels as we can. The Pet Rescue Grant provides vital funds for helping the dogs in our care. Spaying is an important but also costly step for eligible dogs on their rehoming journey and these funds will allow us to help as many dogs as possible. We look forward to sending you updates as we use this grant to support spaniels in need!”
Cat Supporters South Wales
Cat Supporters South Wales has been awarded a mini-grant of £1,000 to help with veterinary costs for cats and kittens in their care.
Cat Supporters South Wales is a small voluntary rescue organisation that helps stray, lost, abandoned and neglected cats in their local areas of South Wales, including Cardiff, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Swansea.
Founder, Georgia Walby, said, “We at Cat Supporters South Wales are so grateful to receive this grant, which will go towards the vets bills for the cats in our care. As a small independent rescue we struggle to fund our activities and this grant will be a big help in enabling us to continue to care for stray and homeless cats in South Wales. Many thanks to Naturewatch Foundation.”
Thank you so much for making the Pet Rescue Grant possible. Look out for updates about how these brilliant rescues have used their grants later in the year.
Find out more about our work to end the exploitation of pets for profit here.
Header image and logo credits (L-R): Hope Rescue, The Bunnyjackpot Foundation, Second Chance Spaniel Rescue, Cat Supporters South Wales.
