About us
Our vision is happy pets in loving, responsible homes.
Each dog and cat that comes through our doors is assessed by our experienced team and our goal is to ensure the right home is found for every animal, no matter how long it takes.
What we do
Every year, we care for around 300 dogs and cats who are lost, abandoned, neglected, unwanted or relinquished because their owners can no longer care for them. We provide care for up to 40 dogs and 30 cats at any one time. Each and every animal receives good food, veterinary care and individual attention to help them feel secure and loved, perhaps for the first time in their lives.
We provide on-going guidance and practical help to both new and existing pet owners, so when you offer one of our animals a home, you can rely on us for advice for months, and even years afterwards.
We also run a unique Community Pet Support Scheme (CPSS) that helps to keep people and pets together. Our Scheme provides those who are elderly, have disabilities and those who are housebound with free professional support to help them care for their pets.
You can find out more about how we help here
Our ethos
We are professional, experienced, kind and friendly. We only use only positive, reward-based training and we treat all animals and customers with respect. Although we are an independent centre, we are part of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) - a large network of animal organisations and charities who work together to improve outcomes for animals. We are also a partner of the world-renowned Battersea. We are funded mainly by donations and we are registered with the Fundraising Regulator.
Our history
Leicester Animal Aid is an independent registered charity whose origins date back almost 70 years. The organisation was founded by one remarkable woman, Dorothea Farndon. In the 1950s, when it was the norm for most married women to stay at home, Dorothea bought stray dogs from the local police station to prevent them from being destroyed.
Dorothea kept some of the rescued dogs in her own home in Saffron Lane, South Wigston. For others, she found homes with members of her family and friends, or paid for temporary boarding until permanent homes could be found. While her neighbours were tending to their flower beds and manicured lawns, Dorothea had chalets built in her back garden to house stray cats until they too could be re-homed. In 1962, Dorothea had 47 feline friends living at her property. Gradually, the animals took over all the rooms in the large house until Dorothea was living in what was previously the maid’s parlour next to the kitchen.
Since then a lot has changed. We now have 4.5 acres to call our own, up to 70 animals on-site at any one time and a well-qualified and professional staff team. However, our core purpose of rescuing cats and dogs remains the same. The photographs below are some that we've collected over the years.
