Last chances. Something everybody deserves. Even animals.
Recently, I saw the Last Chance Animal Rescue Charity Shop on Southborough Lane, in Bromley and loved everything about it. Christmas decorations everywhere, adorable pictures of animals in brochures, with so many items you can’t even count!
The charity has been registered since 1986, constantly rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing many dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. They treat the animals, in any circumstance, with endless amounts of love, food, shelter, and medical care (like inoculating the animals, or treating illness), fulfilling the ultimate goal of providing every enchanting animal with a caring home. The animals are also kept healthy, happy, and safely, in rescue centers, found in Kent, in New Romney and Edenbridge.
In the fundraising shop, there is so much to look at, from designer clothing, shoes and accessories to Christmas decorations, kitchenware and antiques. The shop is quite lucky to have many retired expert volunteers, like museum specialists assessing luxury items, and vintage specialists, providing the best experience possible. All money raised from selling all the donated merchandise is then sent towards an amazing cause, for the animals in need.
I interviewed Lidia, the shop manager, who has had 25 years of work experience, managing luxury retail businesses on Bond Street, Harrods and Heathrow Terminal 3, and working at the last chance charity shop. She learnt that there were many steps to learn, like never knowing how much would be donated, relying on the volunteers’ help, sometimes feeling the pressure to do things quickly. But she said, “It all works. We have managed to make this quite a success, built up a wider customer base with plenty of regulars, and we are still an Aladdin's cave, but with a bit of style and flair”. She further recalls barely anyone leaving empty handed, with most dogs dragging owners into the shop, knowing they will get treats.
What I really love about this charity shop is how Lidia told me that they are run by trustees, not CEOs, and volunteers, with huge bundles of love for abandoned animals, to help as many as possible. I learnt that the charity is running, thanks to the utmost generosity of people supporting the charity, helping to continue this crucial work.
However, what makes me the happiest is knowing that this charity has helped to give another home to hundreds of animals, who will be loved forever, having many more blissful moments to come.
There are so many ways even you can help the charity’s cause, like volunteering at a rescue center, donating, buying pre-loved goods, or even adopting an adorable animal, which comes with many benefits, since they already have 4 weeks of free insurance, from the kindness of the charity, to also help you as much as possible!
From my perspective, I think it’s worth looking at everything this amazing charity has to offer. Why? Well, I think it would be an amazing way to give an animal their most deserved last chance. Don’t you?
