New animal rescue charity in Sussex helps stray animals in the UK and Romania

Paws and Whiskers Sussex (PAWS), is based in Peacehaven and run by volunteers, including one of the founders and directors Jacquie Small, who lives in Hurstpierpoint.

She said: “Our aim is to build a trustworthy and transparent rescue and try to remove some of the stigma surrounding foreign rescue.

“The team at PAWS aim to rescue dogs and cats both abroad and those surrendered in the UK and rescue stray animals from Romania.”

The founders have all worked in rescue before and left another organisation together, saying they weren’t happy with the welfare.

Hannah Carter, one of the founders and directors, said: “Owning our own rescue has been a dream come true.

“Most of us have never met each other as everything we do is virtual but we get along so well and have become really close friends.”

Hannah said how strays are a ‘huge problem’ in Romania, with mass euthanasia in place — PAWS instead focuses on spaying and neutering.

She said: “Many animals have diseases and are terrified of humans so our rescuers lovingly nurse them back to health and gain their trust so they can find happy homes.

“We also take in any animals already in the UK who need to be re-homed for any reason.

“We don’t use kennels so all of our animals spend a minimum period in foster homes being assessed before being matched with a suitable adopter.

“We hope it means we get it right first time.

“Although we offer support to our adopters for the rest of the animals’ life, we don’t want anyone to feel they ended up with the wrong match resulting in them being returned.

“Our newly home checked adopters and fosters all attend a group Zoom meeting with our rescue behaviourist Lucia to give them all the information they need before welcoming a rescue animal into their homes.”

To find out more about the work PAWS does and to adopt an animal from them, visit www.paws-rescue.org