mission statement
Aims and Objectives
- To relieve the suffering of animals of any species who are in need of care and attention and in particular to provide or maintain animal sanctuaries or other facilities for the reception and care of animals and the treatment of sick or ill-treated animals
- To advance the education of the public in the care of animals
- To advance education in the preservation, improvement and protection of the habitat of animals
- To aid the rehabilitation and improve the quality of life for socially disadvantaged and disabled people
To help you navigate around this fairly large document, if there is something specific that you want to know about, see if it fits into any of the following headings:-
- Early Background
- River Farm Leased
- Rehoming Policy
- PACT Veterinary Unit
- Management, staff and volunteers
- The Henry Hallam Therapy Centre
- Our work with wildlife
- Education
- Funding
- Future Plans
Early Background
The Charity was established at Colney Hall, by a group of people dedicated to animal welfare, and registered as a charity in March 1995.
Colney Hall Estate was sold to its present owner in October 1996 and PACT was informed that they could stay on the premises, using the outbuildings, until he needed to develop them. The Owner promised that PACT would be leased land elsewhere on the estate. At this stage PACT cared for just 48 animals.
By July 1997 the PACT family had grown to well over a 100 rescued animals when they were told to find alternative accommodation.
River Farm Leased
Fortunately for the animals at PACT and the future of the Charity, on the 1st October 1999 they signed a 10-year lease on 15 acres of land with modern kennelling and various outbuildings.
To all questions the answers must always be 'what is best for the animals?'PACT is a charity that begins where other local organisations have neither the facilities nor expertise to cope. PACT rescues, rehabilitates, and where possible re-homes, neglected, injured and abandoned animals. Their speciality is 'problem' animals - victims of physical or mental abuse - they coax them back to health, overcoming their behavioural distress, and restoring their dignity. In most cases these poor creatures would've had no option other than euthanasia. Currently the largest proportion of the rescues come from broken partnerships who have no wish or ability to keep their pets! Over the past three years, PACT has rehomed or released over 1000 animals, and now has over 600 resident animals at the sanctuary. Exotic birds, Rats, Gerbils, Hamsters, Ferrets, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Cats, Dogs, Sheep, Vietnamese Pigs, Goats, Ponies, and Horses [the quantities change from week to week].
Rehoming Policy
The PACT Sanctuary are currently rehoming at a rate of 8 animals per week mainly cats and dogs. When the animals are brought into the sanctuary the ownership is transferred to PACT who keep that ownership for the life of the animal. Foster-carers are found who will give the animals loving, knowledgeable homes and a contract is signed setting out the conditions under which the foster-carers must carry out their duties to their new companions. It is emphasised that if for any reason there is a problem in the new arrangement then the animals must be returned to the sanctuary. This doesn't happen very often as a home visit prior to the animal being taken is always carried out to ascertain the appropriateness of the new environment, i.e. location, fencing, condition of other animals, attitude of members of the family, etc. Post rehome checks are also carried out. All animals are neutered before leaving the sanctuary unless it is not possible to do so, in which case the foster-carer is contracted to arrange neutering and this is checked on by PACT.
There is no scale of fees but every foster-carer is expected to make a minimum donation to cover the costs of neutering, vaccinations, blood tests etc and becomes a 'Friend of PACT' to continue supporting the sanctuary in the future.
PACT Veterinary Unit
In 2006 two generous supporters donated the funding to build a veterinary unit at River Farm. The Unit was completed in 2007 and equipped by donations from ‘Friends of PACT’ who also with monthly standing orders, part financed the employment of a qualified veterinary nurse. A vet attends one day per week and in this way the animals have benefited considerably with on site treatment.
Management, Staff and Volunteers
The Trustees of PACT have overall responsibility of the charity and they meet once every month with the administrators who look after the day-to-day management of the sanctuary and funding. PACT employs six animal care assistants. There are also about 30 occasional volunteers who help to care for the animals. In addition to the volunteers who just love animals, and want to help the work, they have some helpers experiencing health problems, including Stress, ME, MS, and Polio sufferers. Some come just to sit with the cats for an hour or so, others at different times to walk dogs, and still others who spend two or three days a week at the sanctuary. Working and being with the animals has proven to be an excellent aid to help people regain self-confidence and learn to cope and relate to people.
PACT regularly provides work experience for students from local colleges and schools. There are currently four students who are training in 'Animal Care' up to NVQ 2 in conjunction with Easton Agricultural College, and every year 15 to 20 pupils from local secondary schools come to PACT for their work experience. Most of these young people find a new purpose in life and some stay on after their work experience to become volunteers. Working with the animals help them find new confidence in themselves and their abilities, improve their ability to communicate and interact with others and increase their awareness of community issues. Others as a result of their work with the animals have found full time employment. In fact two of our current employed care assistants were students at PACT.
PACT is now accepted as one of the best environments for animal welfare training in East Anglia.
The Henry Hallam Therapy Centre
In November 2006, PACT was awarded a £50,000 grant from the ‘Big Lottery Fund to convert an old barnyard with buildings suitable to be updated to accommodate friendly animals, thus affording a quiet, contained place where people with physical, mental and emotional stress problems can associate and interact with the animals without being exposed to the other volunteers etc.
The Centre will open in May 2008 and will include a cuddle/study room and disabled toilet facilities. It has attracted a considerable amount of interest, as it will be the first of it’s kind in the country.
Our Work With Wildlife
Included in the 15 acres at the Sanctuary, is an area of 2 acres with large ponds, which is dedicated to wildlife. A predator proof fence has been erected so that injured wildlife that would not survive in the wild can be released here to live as normal a life as possible in safety.
This area is known as the Maurice Sparkes Memorial Wildlife Site. It is dedicated to the memory of a very dear man who was totally committed to the preservation of wildlife and animal welfare, and it is in his and others memory that funds are available to complete the work, once the freehold has been secured.
Recently PACT have been able to assist two local Elderly Residential Homes by removing families of young ducks, who were causing hazards to the residence and rehome them on the ponds in this area.
Education
The Charity has over 8,000 'Friends of PACT' who receive an informative newsletter four times a year. Talks are arranged with local schools and W.I, clubs, etc. and suitable animals are taken to meet the groups.
Local school and clubs regularly visit the sanctuary at special arranged times to help the education of these youngsters in animal welfare.
The PACT Trustees consider this aspect of their work is so very important, teaching people that animals can return with interest the t.l.c. that is shown them.
Funding
PACT currently needs over £550 every day to maintain the high standards of care that have been established over the past thirteen years. The majority of the funds are all donated by the ‘Friends of PACT’ who receive regular newsletters with draw tickets, and respond accordingly. A small amount is requested and obtained from grant making trusts. A dedicated army of volunteers raise funds by store collections, collection boxes in local outlets, various special events. PACT has two charity shops selling donated goods and a sponsorship scheme. Several kind supporters have remembered the PACT animals in their wills and these legacies are used to improve the facilities at the sanctuary.
Future Plans
When the sanctuary first moved on to the site at River Farm, planning permission was obtained not only for 'change of use' but also for a considerable development of permanent buildings for the animal, these included: housing for 150 cats, 20 dogs, 100 rodents, staff wash room and toilets, disabled facilities, storage for food and bedding.