{"id":65352,"date":"2025-05-02T13:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T13:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/?p=65352"},"modified":"2025-05-02T13:34:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T13:34:10","slug":"community-rallies-to-support-animal-charity-after-van-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/05\/02\/community-rallies-to-support-animal-charity-after-van-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"Community rallies to support animal charity after van theft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An animal charity, that was left devastated after its rescue van was stolen and destroyed, says it has been \u201coverwhelmed\u201d by the wave of support from the local community and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adoptapaws, based in Hilltop, Rotherham, faced a major setback last week when its \u00a330,000 specialist van was taken from a garage in Hillsborough, Sheffield, and later found abandoned near Beeley Wood with its engine stripped and parts scattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vicki Fryer, one of the trustees of Adpotapaws, said: \u201cWe\u2019re overwhelmed with the amount of support we\u2019ve got at the minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe GoFundMe\u2019s raised nearly \u00a310,000 and we\u2019ve got a fundraiser that\u2019s now over \u00a35000 and we just can\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The charity is raising money<\/a> to replace the van and its custom fittings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as donations, the charity has been offered practical help, including volunteers stepping in to take animals to the vet in their cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A loaned camper van also allowed them to attend the All About Dogs Show in Newark last weekend, an important fundraising event for the charity, which Adoptapaws were sure they\u2019d miss without the van.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vicki said: \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely amazing the amount of support that we\u2019ve been given. We\u2019ve had people volunteer to take our animals to the vets, absolutely all sorts of help has been offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had somebody offer their camper van so that we could get to the show that we were doing at Newark at the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support for the charity has been widespread with animals charities such as the RSPCA in Sheffield, who were able to donate \u00a3500 to Adoptapaws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A singer and entertainment artist was also able to donate a generous \u00a3650 by selling some of her old stage costumes to raise funds.<\/p>\n\n\n