Rescue fund

The NERS rescue fund began as a fundraising venture for specific rat rescues in the north of England, but quickly evolved into a general fund that is available to anyone in the UK to apply to, to support the work of rat rescue. This can be individuals involved in rescue or fostering rescue rats, or individuals on behalf of their local animal shelter or rescue - so long as the money is specifically used for rat related work. To date, most of the money has been used to pay for medical/surgical interventions for rats rescued and then rehomed by individuals around the UK. This is extremely positive, as this prevents these rats from ending up in rescue institutions and allows them to be cared for in the home, with the extra interaction and attention that is then possible. Many of these rats have been solitary adult bucks, written off as 'aggressive' or 'hates other rats' who, once castrated, have all successfully been integrated into new homes with new rattie friends.

Funds are raised via the NERS shows, personal donations, donations made when homing rescued kittens and other specific fundraising events. NERS members and friends have been extremely generous in supporting the fund which in turn has been able to help many rats around the UK by funding castrations, lumpectomies, medical treatment and other costs. Individuals who use the fund are always encouraged to become involved in fundraising in some way, even if only by asking for a donation to the fund when rehoming the rats who have been helped.

Anyone can apply to the fund (you do not need to be a NERS member) to ask for money to buy equipment for rat rescue to donate to a local rescue centre, pay for specific veterinary treatment for rescue rats or even buy food or bedding for a specific rescue situation. All applications will be considered so long as they are specifically to help rescue rats, are UK based and some form of invoice or receipt can be supplied. The rats involved must also (generally) be in rescue/foster care and not in a permanent home, although all exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case by case basis.

Applications are submitted to the NERS committee for discussion and approval. To date all applications have been successful, though the funding offered for some surgical interventions has been capped. This enables the fund to be used fairly and as widely as possible, which allows us to help the maximum number of rats. The NERS does not wish to encourage people to take on rescue rats when they do not have the rescources to do so. For this reason, all payments are made retrospectively on the production of a receipt.

Supporting the fund through donations and fundraising is one way to help the cuase of rat rescue in the UK without actively taking in and rehoming rats. Donations of rattie equipment are always appreciated as these can be passed on to rescues or auctioned to raise funds.

Where the fund has been used to help a specific rat we do ask that their story can be included in the society magazine, in order to keep our membership informed as to where the money raised has been used. Some of these stories are available to read here.

How to apply

To apply to the NERS rescue fund you may use our online application form.

Or post an application to the rescue fund administrator using this printable application form. This form requires Acrobat reader (free downloadable software).

For supporting information please follow this link or contact our rescue fund administrator.