"AN animal charity that is struggling to stay open has issued a plea for help.

RSPCA Warrington, Halton, and St Helens Branch cares for animals that are victims of the worst cases of abuse.

There are currently 350 dogs on the waiting list for the Slutchers Lane site due to increasing levels of abuse and neglect.

Recently, one poor dog was even abandoned at the centre’s gates during the worst of a storm.

The centre has 12 dog kennels, three dog isolation kennels, 18 cat pens, and four cat isolation pens.

But the self-funded RSPCA branch, which relies heavily on fundraising, is struggling to make ends meet.

Each month, it costs around £30,000 to run the site and the majority of funds are reliant on donations and fundraising.

Branch support manager Kevin McFarlane told the Warrington Guardian how eBay sales of donated items, carnivals and fairs are the main source of income.

But this is not enough.

"As a local, self-funded branch of the RSPCA we rely heavily on fundraising to help us care for the dozens of animals we rehome and rehabilitate,” said Kevin.

As well as covering running costs, the branch is currently aiming to raise money for a number of refurbishments to provide a better experience for the animals there.

Kevin added: “We are currently trying to raise money to help pay for an electric powered animal ambulance and to help us renovate a building into a wet room for the purposes of grooming the animals we have in our care."

There are also dilapidated former dog kennels that if renovated could allow for even more animals to be cared for and rehabilitated at the RSPCA Warrington, Halton, and St Helens."

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