RSPCA Autumn Open Day

RSPCA Animal Centre Deputy Manager Chan Taylor with puppies Jessie and Aston

RSPCA Rochdale held an autumn open day on Saturday (22 November) to raise money for the animal centre. RSPCA Rochdale receives no government funding or money so relies on donations and fundraising money to keep the centre going.

Shirley Mellor said: "These events are very important to us and our fundraising."

The event saw parts of the animal centre transformed to hold a variety of stalls including games, food, baby clothes, Christmas gifts and toys.

Shirley added: "We have been busy so that's good."

The animal centre costs £1,700 a day to run and fundraising events help generate the money to cover those costs. "The last event raised about £700 but we appreciate anything that anyone can give,” said Shirley.

Guests at the event were also able to visit the cattery and look at some of the cats that the RSPCA help. Shirley said: "We predominantly have cats here but we also have rabbits, guinea pigs and puppies."

Your reporter was also lucky enough to meet the abandoned puppies that the RSPCA took in after they were found at Hollingworth Lake.

"They are doing really well but it's now just about teaching them because everything they know is learned behaviour from not having their mother around,” said Shirley.

RSPCA Rochdale currently has eight charity shops as well as the animal centre and has been located in Rochdale for over one hundred years.

"These events are really fun and popular and bring people in. We were lucky today because the weather was on our side,” added Shirley.