When Teddy signed up for the Abingdon Marathon, he knew he wanted to run for something that mattered. What he discovered about RSPCA Oxfordshire changed his perspective on local giving entirely.
“I wanted to support a charity where I could see the difference,” Teddy explains in a new video produced by Oxford Brookes University student Chizuru. “When you give locally, you know exactly where that money goes.”
It’s a sentiment that resonates deeply with the team at RSPCA Oxfordshire — and one that highlights a common misconception about how the organisation actually works.
The truth about local RSPCA branches
Many people assume that when they donate to the RSPCA, funds flow seamlessly between the national organisation and local branches. The reality is quite different.
Sharon, Operations Manager at RSPCA Oxfordshire, explains the relationship: “National inspectors carry out the rescues or receive animals that are signed over to us. Then they contact us as a branch, and we take the animals in from there.”
Once an animal arrives at the branch, the financial responsibility shifts entirely to the local team.
“We provide all the care they need — and we fund this completely on our own,” Sharon says.
This means every vaccination, every operation, every bag of food, and every hour of rehabilitation comes from donations raised locally. Without the generosity of supporters like Teddy, the branch simply couldn’t continue its work.
Behind the rescue statistics
The animals arriving at RSPCA Oxfordshire often come with complex needs. Some have been neglected. Others have been abandoned. Many require extensive veterinary treatment before they’re ready to find new homes.
Sharon has seen it all during her time with the branch, and she shares some of these cases in the video — stories of animals who arrived frightened and unwell, and left healthy, confident, and loved.
“Rehabilitation isn’t just physical,” she notes. “Some animals need time to learn to trust people again. That takes patience, expertise, and resources.”
The branch works tirelessly to assess each animal’s needs, provide appropriate care, and match them with suitable adoptive families. It’s a process that can take weeks or even months, depending on the individual animal.
Why local matters
For Teddy, choosing RSPCA Oxfordshire over a larger national charity was a deliberate decision.
Fundraising for a local branch creates a direct line between effort and impact. The money raised from a single marathon entry could fund emergency surgery for an injured cat, provide weeks of foster care for a litter of abandoned puppies, or cover the specialist treatment needed for a rabbit with dental problems.
That tangible connection — knowing that your miles translate into meals, medicines, and second chances — is what motivated Teddy through every training run.
How you can help
RSPCA Oxfordshire relies entirely on public support to continue its lifesaving work. Whether you’re an endurance athlete looking for your next challenge, someone who could spare a few hours volunteering, or simply in a position to make a donation, the branch welcomes all contributions.
Fundraising doesn’t have to mean running 26.2 miles. Supporters have raised money through bake sales, sponsored silences, birthday donations, and countless other creative initiatives. What matters isn’t the method — it’s the commitment to local animals in need.
To find out more about RSPCA Oxfordshire, watch the full video, or explore fundraising opportunities, visit the branch website.
The video featuring Teddy and Sharon was produced by Chizuru from Oxford Brookes University.
