West Country animal charity urges people to donate this Black Friday
Bristol ARC says winter is going to be a challenging period for charities up and down the country
Last updated 24th Nov 2023
You might have shopped 'til you've dropped this Black Friday - but you're also urged to give charities a thought.
It's as they're gearing up for a challenging winter, tackling the rising cost of living.
The Bristol Animal Rescue Centre say today is also really bad for environment, and claim Black Friday is expected to produce 429,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from product deliveries alone this year – the same as 435 return flights from London to New York.
It also leads to significant waste, with many products bought on Black Friday ending in landfill, incinerated, or recycled poorly - which can also have a detrimental impact on wildlife.
Last year, Bristol ARC admitted 496 injured or orphaned wildlife, many of whom were hurt as a direct result of litter.
The RSPCA nationally received 10,483 phone calls about wildlife injured by litter between 2020-2022.
Katie Love, Fundraising and Communications Manager at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre, said: “This Black Friday we’re urging people to stop and think about their purchases. Instead of using it as an opportunity to buy Christmas gifts that people don’t want or need for the sake of it, why not give the gift of kindness and support an animal charity like ours instead?”
Rescue Centres across the country are full to bursting with animals as the cost of living crisis continues to impact pet owners.
Calls about pet neglect and abandonment to the RSPCA are reaching a three-year high, with more than 16,000 abandonments reported to the charity’s emergency line in the first nine months of 2023 – an increase of more than 7% on the same period last year.
Bristol Animal Rescue Centre has seen a surge in demand for its services, with more animals than ever before arriving in need of urgent medical care.
Katie Love added: “We’re stemming a never-ending tidal wave of animals who need our help, many arriving in more desperate conditions than we’ve seen before.
“If ever there was a time to support your local animal rescue centre, this is it.”
Bristol A.R.C. has been caring for the city’s pets and wildlife since 1887, helping, healing and homing thousands of vulnerable animals each year.
They are the oldest and largest local animal charity, and rely entirely on local support within the community.
You can find out more about the charity on their website.