A BRANCH of the RSPCA could face closure after donations dried up.
The Hull and East Riding branch of the RSPCA says it only has four months' running costs left and yesterday launched an urgent appeal for funds.
The charity has been in the city for 105 years and its branch manager Lyn Clarke said she was "serious
ly worried."
She said donations had dropped because of the economic climate, and where they once got six to eight donations a week they were not now getting as many in a month.
After the appeal was launched yesterday morning, a steady stream of people visited the branch's premises on Clough Road and the telephone lines "hadn't stopped", she said.
She said: "We are so grateful for the positive response but we want people not just to think of us today but tomorrow the next week and next year. It's not just a one off thing that will be cured in a day."
Mrs Clarke said the centre was full to the brim with animals as people were not adopting pets in the downturn.
"It has to be with the current economic situation and the problems every individual is facing. So many people are being made redundant or are in fear of being made redundant that they are not able to adopt animals quite as frequently as they were doing."
Each branch of the RSPCA is a separately registered charity and responsible for its own running costs. The centre in Hull has 18 full and part-time staff and many volunteers.
To support the "A Pound for A Pet" appeal donations can be made to Barclays branches in Hull – on Hessle Road, Chanterlands Avenue, Holderness Road, Cottingham Road, King Edward Street, and in Beverley, Brough, Cottingham, Hessle and Patrington.
