As we come to the end of 2025, we want to thank you for standing with us through an extraordinary year. Your kindness and that of other supporters has helped animals find safety, helped people find connection, and helped our charity keep moving forward with hope and ambition.
Here are just a few highlights we’re proud to share with you.
REHABILITATION AND REHOMINGING ANIMALS
As a charity who specialise in the rehabilitation and rehoming of cats and dogs who have been subjected to cruelty, abandonment or neglect we are incredibly proud to have rehomed 224 animals to the end of November, more that the whole of 2024.
This consisted of 55 dogs, 38 puppies, 56 cats and 74 kittens, all in warm, loving homes.
Five Spaniels, Five Happy Endings – On Easter Weekend RSPCA rescued over 80 spaniels from appalling conditions from a property in Doncaster we sprang to action. We personally welcomed four spaniel puppies and one young adult—now affectionately named Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Cloud. These five new arrivals brought our total number of puppies in our care to 12, and given this challenge we put out a urgent appeal for help – and the response was immense! The needs of the spaniels were immediate and urgent with each dog needing Full health checks and vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, Neutering or spaying, nutritious food and, of course, endless love and care. We are delighted to share that all five found loving forever homes. Their transformation is a testament to what community kindness can achieve.
Working Together for Feral Cats – October saw our first Feral Cat Summit, bringing together rescue groups, community carers, and welfare organisations across the region. This collaborative event laid the foundations for a city-wide partnership to improve outcomes for feral and community cats. We are proud to lead a compassionate and coordinated approach that supports both cats and the people who care for them.
EDUCATING
Petwise: Inspiring the Next Generation – We launched our brand-new Petwise Education Programme in September delivering school assemblies and workshops across Hull and the East Riding. Backed by local wind farm funds —Petwise is in its infancy but has already impacted 700 children across schools and out of school clubs helping them to become kinder, more responsible animal guardians which is vital to preventing cruelty before it begins.
Work Experience to future Animal Care Staff – We were honoured to be recognised by Bishop Burton College for providing over 2,400 hours of meaningful work experience this academic year. Helping students build real-world skills is an investment in the future of animal welfare.
FUNDRAISING
Running the centre costs over £1500 per day and it is vital we work with the community to support us with fund raising whether this is events, individual challenges, donations of unloved treasure for our shops or simply change donated online or in collection tins.
Events – After the Christmas Open Day on 14th December we’ll have held four open days at the center allowing people to take a tour of our site and meet our animals, learn about our work, and support our work via paid for activities. These will be back for 2026 – hopefully even bigger and better.
We teamed up with Dove House Hospice again this year allowing supporters to fund raise for us at the Night Walk, the Pub to Bub and the Santa Walk. We are thankful to Dove House for allowing us to be involved in these events and look forward to the rearrange Get Caked Event in April.
This November – during Hull Comedy Festival – we hosted our first Cats vs Dogs Comedy Night, with stand-up, games, and plenty of laughter — all to support animal rehabilitation and homelessness support projects. With the help of hilarious host Gary Jennison and our generous audience, the event raised vital funds while bringing our community together.
Launching Our New Community Lottery – Just this month we’ve launched our Your Charity Lottery Partnership, giving supporters the chance to win weekly cash prizes while helping animals in need. Every £1 ticket helps fund the rehabilitation of cats and dogs in our care. This new fundraising stream is already helping us build long-term sustainability.
Free Online Will Service – We have been the recipient of many Legacy Gifts within peoples wills which have undoubtedly made a huge difference to the sustainability of the charity. To support people in making a Will we have launched a free online with Make a Will Online providing peace of mind and ensure that their loved ones and causes can be supported with a legacy gift.
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
Engaging Businesses Across Hull – In June, Hull Business Week 2025 gave us the chance to showcase how local businesses can support animal welfare through corporate sponsorships, volunteer days, in-kind donations, and shared projects. This included being asked to speak at the launch event about our Revolutionary, Remarkable, Resourceful and Real work.
Over the course of the year, we have secured businesses support in the following ways:
- 9 Businesses sponsoring a Kennel or cattery pod.
- 10 Businesses paying to hold team volunteer days at the branch.
- Many businesses providing significant donations of items for sale within the charity shops
- In-kind support from fixing the roof, to repairing the washing machine, jet washing the site to unblocking drains – this all helps the smooth running of the site.
In partnership with Future Humber, we hosted a Talent+ business leadership event exploring how our HEART values (Humanity, Excellence, Accountability, Responsiveness & Teamwork) shape our culture and drive decisions. Strong values make strong impact — and we are committed to leading with purpose. Great for our charity to be teaching business in this way.
COMMUNITY
Foodbank – We know the cost of living is impacting all homes and we are delighted to be working with the Trussell Trust to support people needing pet food for their pets. The demand on us will increase as funding for this service is no longer available via National RSPCA and we are determined to continue supporting communities that need us and will be utilising food donated via businesses and the public to keep it going as well as looking at grants to support the work.
Veterans Support – We are proud to have achieved the Silver Award in the Ministry of Defence’s Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme, recognising its strengthened commitment to supporting veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, and military families. The award reflects the charity’s proactive approach to being an armed-forces-friendly organisation — from offering flexible, supportive HR policies for reservists and service families to providing employment and volunteering opportunities that value the unique skills veterans bring.
Honouring Pets on Pet Memorial Day – This year we joined the national Not Just a Pet campaign recognising the pets who shaped our lives. Grief for a pet is real and meaningful, and we were honoured to help people remember their companions with love at our Annual Animal Blessing event at Hull Minster in August.
Domestic Abuse – As a proud White Ribbon Supporting Organisation, we remain commitment to safeguarding vulnerable people and animals — recognising that protecting pets can also protect people. This has seen us actively educating about violence against women and girls and supporting the “Unhidden Face of Domestic Abuse” conference — a powerful half-day event that brought together local organisations, professionals and community members to shed light on the often-overlooked issue of domestic abuse among older people.
VOLUNTEERS
Celebrating Our Volunteers – During Volunteer Week in June, we thanked our incredible volunteer family, who donated more than 15,000 hours in 2024 to help animals which is the equivalent of over £178k. Volunteers are the heart of everything we do, and we were delighted to recognise their impact with a small gift and heartfelt gratitude.
And finally, this work has contributed to the branch being Nominated for the National RSPCA Organisational Effectiveness Award in recognition to our animal welfare, community engagement and commitment to excellence.
Thank you for standing with us this year because of people like you, hundreds of animals received hope, safety, and a second chance of a life worth living.
As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to compassion, community, and changing lives — one paw at a time.
From all of us at
RSPCA Hull & East Riding Branch
