National Animal Welfare Trust
 | |
| Abbreviation | NAWT |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1971 |
| Type | Charity |
| Purpose | Rescue and re-home domestic animals and provide a place of sanctuary or retirement for animals of all types. |
| Headquarters | Tylers Way, Watford Bypass, Watford, WD25 8HQ |
Region served | England and Wales |
Staff | 92 |
Volunteers | 350 |
| Website | http://www.nawt.org.uk |
The National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) is an animal welfare charity founded in 1971, which operates no-kill rescue centres for animals and birds. It currently has branches in Watford, Berkshire, Essex, Somerset and Cornwall; and caters for a variety of animals, both pets and wildlife. They operate a number of premises, including Trindledown Farm, the UK's only retirement home for elderly pets. Formerly known as the Animal Welfare Trust (AWT), it originated from the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in the 1950s.
Origin
The NAWT was founded in 1971 as an independent charity, and was originally known as the Animal Welfare Trust (National was added in 1996 to celebrate the charity's 25th anniversary). The origin of the organisation can be traced to 1958 when the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) established BUAV Dog Rescue. The ideals of this new rescue organisation was to prevent dogs or puppies being bought at markets in order to prevent them from going to laboratories for vivisection. In 1965 the name was changed to BUAV Animal Aid, in recognition that the work was not limited to only dogs.[1]
In 1971 BUAV members established a separate charity named the Animal Welfare Trust as they felt the work of BUAV Animal Aid was departing from its original aims. From 1979, the AWT began to work with the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research from its Hendon & Aldenham Boarding Kennels, in Watford, sharing facilities and staff. The Dr Hadwen Trust is now separate from the NAWT, although they work together as appropriate.[1]
The boarding kennels in Watford were purchased in 1981, and were established as the first AWT Rescue and Re-homing centre. The centre was expanded in 1986 with expanded facilities for larger animals and more exercise paddocks. The second centre at Heaven's Gate Farm in Somerset was acquired in the early 1990s, and the third centre at Trindledown Farm, Berkshire in the late 1990s. The centre in Cornwall was acquired on the request of Molly Wyatt in 1997 who had previously run it as an independent animal re-homing centre,[1] with the site rebuilt in 2008.[2] The Thurrock centre is currently run out of rented boarding kennels.[1]
Trindledown Farm
The animals come here because their owners have died or can't cope any more. They've known only love and attention. They'd never handle being cooped up somewhere. What we're doing is trying to let them carry on with the life they've known.
Mel Karmode, National Animal Welfare Trust[3]
Trindledown Farm is the UK's only sanctuary for elderly pets. It is set in 10 acres (40,000 m2) of fields, near Great Shefford, Berkshire. Formerly used as an equestrian centre and livery yard, it has the capacity to home 25 dogs and 10 cats at a time.[4] Other animals accommodated include alpacas, horses, pigs, sheep, cows and birds.[3] Each cat or dog has a private area equipped with central heating, armchairs, sofas, beds and televisions. The idea is to make each private area similar to the set-up of "an old person's sitting room", which was developed by executive director Patricia Fraser. The centre was opened in June, 2001, by DJ Bruno Brookes.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "National Animal Welfare Trust - A Brief History". National Animal Welfare Trust. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ↑ "Work to begin on animal shelter". Falmouth Packet. 2008-05-18. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- 1 2 Edwards, John (2003-09-24). "Pipe and slippers time for the pets". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- 1 2 Storer, Jackie (2002-09-03). "A tranquil setting for retiring pets". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-01-20.