YORKSHIRE Cat Rescue has received emergency support to help it survive through the Covid-19 pandemic.

The money from the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes will help make up for a fundraising shortfall as it struggles to look after 150 cats and kittens.

The group, based in Cross Roads, is among many UK charities benefiting from the fund, which was set up in April by the ADCH, the umbrella body for companion animal rescue organisations.

Many companies including pet food manufacturers, animal medical suppliers and equipment makers rallied round to donate their goods to help keep thousands of animals alive and well.

Yorkshire Cat Rescue (YCC) collected Gourmet Pearl Soup sachets from Sheffield and distributed many sachets to other animal organisations in the Bradford area.

The volunteer-run charity has seen a significant drop in its fundraising income since lockdown began, in common with most animal charities: more than half said income had reduced by more than 50%, and less than half had enough reserves to survive for three months.

YCC founder Sara Atkinson sent: “We are delighted to have been able to benefit from the emergency fund. In the last few weeks we have seen our fundraising income fall quite significantly and the donation of this food will help us enormously.

“It has been such a difficult time and it will continue to be challenging for the foreseeable future, so we want to say a huge thank you to all the businesses that have donated so generously.

“The animals in our care will get everything they need whilst they are with us.”

Claire Horton, chairman of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, said: “We are delighted that Yorkshire Cat Rescue has been able to benefit from the emergency fund.

“There are around 1,200 dog and cat rescue organisations across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, a significant number of whose very survival is threatened by the impact of coronavirus.

“The ADCH Emergency Fund has been set up to help these rescues get through this crisis and avert potentially catastrophic consequences for animals in urgent need in the UK.”

The donations are being distributed to charities across the country who are members of the ADCH with larger organisations such as RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Cats Protection and the National Animal Welfare Trust providing regional collection points for local charities.

Claire added:“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated these vital supplies to help out animal welfare organisations who are struggling at this difficult time.

“Our absolute priority is to do everything we can to make sure animal welfare charities can continue to provide the animals in their care with everything they need until it is time for them to find their forever homes. Thanks to industry partners we have been able to help rescues across the country continue their vital work.”