Target: Nicholas Peel, Leader of Bolton Council, Bolton, United Kingdom
Goal: Provide emergency council support and partnerships so Bolton Destitute Animal Shelter can cover urgent vet care, stabilize caseloads, and keep animals alive.
Bolton Destitute Animal Shelter says vet bills have surged and staff feel “deflated, exhausted and broken.” Recent intakes include an anaemic adult cat who needs at least two dental surgeries costing around £500, three FIP-infected kittens requiring medicine priced at roughly £557 per bottle per cat for up to 12 weeks, and multiple animals needing expensive overnight care that can reach £200 per night each. Leaders describe sleepless nights, bottle feeds every two hours, and heartbreaking losses while the charity juggles rising demand and rising costs.
This picture reflects a wider strain where small teams carry complex medical loads with limited reserves. When rescue capacity buckles, animals suffer first, then communities follow as abandonment and illness grow. Strategic local backing can turn a financial cliff into a bridge. Practical help would keep lifesaving cases moving, prevent costly crises, and shore up volunteer energy before burnout spreads.
Bolton Council can act quickly with targeted support that blends immediate relief and smart prevention. Emergency grants and fee waivers ease pressure now. Formal links with local vets unlock discounted protocols for common conditions. Fostering drives expand safe capacity at low cost. Public reporting from the shelter on caseloads and outcomes builds trust while guiding future help. This petition asks for rapid, visible measures that save animals and sustain a trusted local service.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Peel,
Bolton Destitute Animal Shelter reports soaring vet bills alongside a spike in very sick animals. Examples include an anaemic adult cat facing costly dental surgeries, several kittens needing weeks of FIP treatment at hundreds of pounds per bottle, and repeated overnight admissions billed per animal. Staff describe a 24/7 grind with mounting losses and shrinking reserves. Without timely support, lifesaving work will stall.
We respectfully urge the Council to release an emergency grant to clear immediate veterinary needs and to ring-fence a short-term hardship fund for the most critical cases. Swift relief will keep lifesaving treatment moving while stabilising the shelter’s finances. We ask you to broker a preferred-rate agreement with local veterinary practices covering core procedures, diagnostics, and medicines. Predictable pricing will stretch scarce funds and ensure timely care for sick animals. Please offer temporary relief on applicable council fees or charges and clearly signpost any discretionary business-rates support where the shelter qualifies. Practical cost relief will free resources for treatment and recovery. We also urge a co-hosted boroughwide foster and volunteer drive with clear training and retention support so home-based capacity expands quickly and safely. Extra foster homes reduce kennel strain and improve outcomes. Promote the shelter’s fundraiser through council channels and invite local businesses to match donations during time-limited appeals. Public amplification will turn community goodwill into rapid, tangible aid. Finally, establish a simple reporting framework so the shelter shares monthly intake, outcomes, and spend. Transparent updates will give residents confidence that every pound translates into lives saved.
Targeted backing now will keep animals out of crisis, reduce pressure on public services, and protect a cornerstone of Bolton’s safety net for pets. Swift action can steady this shelter and the many animals depending on it.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Pete Markham
