Whatever the cause, weak, sick, injured, orphaned and starving wild animals depend on the country’s wildlife rescue centres, which return as many as possible back to the wild. Most sanctuaries rely heavily on volunteers whose caring hands look after animals who wouldn’t stand a chance without them. Although these dedicated people freely give up their time and sleep, items such as medicines, capture equipment, food, syringes, heating lamps, bedding and other hospital equipment cost money. CWI has been supporting small local rescue centres that understand the immediate dangers to Britain’s wildlife and are at the frontline of saving lives for almost 25 years. We know these people care deeply about wild animals and will do anything to ease their suffering. But without funds to cover the basics, they are helpless.

In the past few years, your support has helped us save over 40,000 wildlife casualties through local sanctuaries. One of these was Jingle, the fox. Mystified by a strange chinking noise emanating from a neighbour’s garden, a local resident in South London glanced out of her window. She was not prepared for what she saw. A young fox was standing on a garden bench with a metal dog chain dragging from its left hind leg. The fixture designed to fasten a lead to a collar had been attached to the animal’s leg by piercing it right through the ankle. The shocked resident quickly took some photographs before contacting her local sanctuary, where staff was equally horrified. A rescuer was despatched immediately to capture the cub and bring her to safety, where a vet removed the chain and saw to the wound. Amazingly, the cub’s leg had suffered only minor damage, which would heal in time.

Jingle – as she was now called – visibly relaxed as she was finally rid of the nagging pain that had tormented her with every step. To ensure Jingle’s safety, it was decided not to return her to her old neighbourhood. Instead she joined other cubs that were released into beautiful private woodland. Jingle’s ordeal was as deliberate as it was cruel, but even something as trivial as mange causes endless suffering. Mange mite larvae burrow into the skin, causing desperate irritation and inflammation. Affected animals constantly bite and scratch themselves, which lead to further soreness and infection. Mange never heals by itself and kills slowly over a matter of months, yet less than £6 can put an end to it. The sanctuary that treated Jingle was just one of 100 wildlife centres we supported recently. Without CWI’s support they would have been unable to carry out their lifesaving work.

As always, spring is the busiest time for wildlife rescue centres around the country, but with a growing influx of casualties and less funds available, sanctuaries themselves are struggling to survive. What will happen to our orphaned fledglings, badgers and fox cubs, injured birds of prey, hedgehogs and deer if they close their doors? Even a little money goes a long way, and all income from this appeal will go straight towards vital care for wildlife casualties in Britain. Every donation, no matter how small, will go a long way and straight to animals that are desperate for help. Please don’t let the current financial downturn get in the way of making the world a better place and give what you can to save their precious lives