CHARITY NUMBER.. 1147353 HUNGARIAN VIZSLA WELFARE CHARITY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR E DED 31 MAY
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER THE TRUSTEES OF HUNGARIAN VIZSLA VVELFARE CHARITY- REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1147353 I rep)rt on the Accnts of the Charity for the year ended 31 May 2024 whh e set out on the attach8d pages. RE PECTIVE RESPON IBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES AND INDEPENDENT EXAMINER The char5 trustees are responsible for the preparation of the aGGounts. The charivs trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year {under section 144(21 of the Chanties Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) that an Independent examinatlon is needed. It is my responsibllity to: examin8 the accounts {under sectk)n 145 ofthe 2011 Act)," to follow the prcCedus laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity C(mIssiOnerS (under sectlon 145{5)Ib) of the 2011 Act),. and to state whether particular matters have o)me to my attents'on. BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS, REPORT examination was carried out in a¢¢ordance wth the General Directions grven by the Charty Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting (¥d8 kept by the charity aThJ a comparison of the acxounts enled with those reGls. also indudes consNJeration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees n¢ernIng any such matters. The procedures urKlertaken do not provide all the eviden that would be required in an audit and, consequenlly, no opinion is given as to whether the accounts Fresent a true and fair view and the rewrt 15 limited to those matters set out in the ststement below. INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS, TATEMENr In connectDn with my examination. no matter has come lo my attention.. (1) which gNe$ me reasOnae cause lo believe that, in any malerial re5pecL th8 requThments.' to keep entIllg records in aGGcfiiarKe wlth s130 ofthe 2011 ACL and to prepare accounts which a(xcd with the a(xtyJnling records and lo com with the accc4Jnting requ1ments of the 2011 Act have not been met, or (21 to 1¢h, in my oplnion. attentn shId be drawn in Lyder to enable a propw understanding of the accwnts to b8 rethed. Martyn Jenks Signed IM n . Dat&Y 30 September 2025 For and on behalf of MN Jenks & Co. Limited Chartered Accountants 72 Commercial Road Paddock Wocrfj Tonbridge Kent TN12 6DP
HUNGARIAN VIZSLA WELFARE CHARITY CHARITY NUMBER.. 1147353 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024 Year ended 21.05.2022 to 31.05.2024 31.05.2023 RECEIPTS Adoption Donations Surrender Donations General Donations (including via Just Giving) Easy Fundr8ising HVWC In-House Fundraislng (auctions. raffles, sa18s) Fundraising Carried Out by Supporters Pet Plan l Agria Commission Grft Aid PayPal Giving Fund Donations Miscellaneous Income 22,805 3.160 12.994 239 6.858 6.468 1.098 7,608 1,144 21,396 1,290 36.955 921 14.722 971 11,250 1,373 62,417 88,878 EXPENDITURE Cost of Charitable Activities Vel Bills t)onation for Vet Fees Residential Behavioural Assessment and Rehabllltstlon Costs Fostering Expenses & Adopter Support Travel Costs (volunteer mileage & professional pet transport) Charity Indemnity Insurance Purchase of Promotional Items {for sale l fvndrai$ing purposes) Fundraising Expenses (purchase & postage. etc.,) Printed Leafiets. Other Stationery & Postage Costs Website & IT Costs Legal Fees Just Giving Charges Bank CharFs Miscellaneous Expenses 20.516 29,223 1,300 18,735 10,898 1,209 1.132 20,201 4.247 1,135 751 232 179 265 216 77 1,226 50,467 64,218 GOVERNANCE COSTS Independent Examiner Fee$ Total Pa ments 51,347 64,218 RPLUS FOR THE YEA 11.070 24,660 ASH AND BANK BALANCES AT 1.05.2023 88,359 43.699 CASH AND BANK BALAN AT 31.05.2024 £ 79,429 £ 88,359
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- - Hungarian Vizsla Welfare Charity Trustees Annual Report 2023 24
Charity Personnel
Trustees
Susan Millson - Charity Chair/Secretary & Welfare Officer Claire Aldridge - Committee Chair Noanie Heffron - Treasurer/Web Administrator & Welfare Officer Sue Aldous - Facebook administrator & Welfare Officer
Welfare Officers All as above, plus:
Karen Foster - also responsible for updating our database as changes happen Shelley Owens - newly appointed in 2023 - experienced professional dog handler Elaine Entwistle - newly appointed in 2023 - experienced professional dog handler John Duncan - special responsibility for microchip reassignment to new owners’ names
Fundraising Team
Suzanne Drake, Barb Short, Emma Critchley
Aims and Objectives
Rehoming
Our main aim, as always, is to focus on the rehoming of Vizslas who for a multitude of reasons cannot stay with their owners. We also remain committed to supporting owners who are not wanting to rehome their Vizsla but do not yet have sufficient knowledge/experience to resolve the dog’s behaviour issues themselves.
Health
We continue to support the research into autoimmune illnesses in the breed, which is still being led by Di Addicott at our sister charity the Vizsla Health Trust. If any of our adopted dogs present with any of the illnesses, we ask owners to contact her, so records can be started and relevant DNA collection can be carried out. If other owners contact us about suspected autoimmune health issues then again we encourage them to contact Di Addicott. At present Cambridge Veterinary University holds all the DNA swabs that have been collected over the years, along with the dogs’ veterinary documentation, and the breed is very lucky to have that facility along with the dedicated work of Di Addicott and the Vizsla Health Trust. In addition to supporting the work of the VHT, Trustee Noanie Heffron is a member of the recently formed Joint Health Panel, a collaboration between the newly appointed Breed Health Coordinator Verity Griffiths and selected representatives from the Hungarian Vizsla Club, the Hungarian Vizsla Society, Vizsla Welfare and Vizsla Rescue.
Education
This also remains one of our priorities and our Facebook Page and Group are both good resources to help us reach our regular followers, as well as brand new Vizsla owners, and disseminate useful information. In addition, we continue to monitor the various Vizsla Facebook groups carefully and are always ready to step in with training, behavioural, health, exercise, and dietary advice whenever owners are seeking guidance. This often proves to be a very effective ‘early intervention’ which helps owners get on top of their young pup’s issues before they escalate and become far more serious problems in an older and larger dog.
General Charity Activities 2023-24
Rehoming
2023-24 saw yet another increase in the number of requests made to us and the number of dogs rehomed. 121 requests were made for rehoming. Of those, 62 were surrendered to us, and 3 of these were assessed as dangerously aggressive and were humanely euthanised. This course of action is only ever done as a last resort, after extensive behavioural assessment and attempts to retrain and rehabilitate.
Of the 59 dogs we rehomed, 27 required extensive input - either behavioural assessment and modification with trainers as mentioned above, or extended time in foster. Total behavioural modification and training costs for the year were £20,200. Fostering and travel/transport expenses for the year were £6,811.
Several dogs (all under 3 years old) required expensive specialist veterinary treatment to enable them to lead a healthy and pain free life. Many more dogs with ongoing medical issues were supported, with costs for scans, investigations, ongoing medication, and geriatric care. Total vet bills for the year were £20,515.
We have an exceptional behaviourist in Jess Probst BSc CFBA of Honest Hounds/Dundee Dog Training, as well Rob Lowe of Angus Dog Training. They will take on our behaviourally problematic/aggressive dogs and carry out extensive assessment and behavioural modification work. We also have proven trainers spread around the entire country whom we can call on if we feel a young dog has simply not been given any boundaries and therefore their owner is able to be supported to keep the dog rather than feeling they have no option but to rehome.
We also have an amazing number of fosterers and other volunteers who are ready to help us whenever we contact them, and who often travel long distances transporting surrendered Vizslas around the UK for us.
Fundraising
On line auctions and other in-house fundraising activities raised £6,855. Sponsored fundraising events by Sarah Semmens and Andrew Johnston raised approx. £4,250 (inc Gift Aid). And our long-term supporter Helga Root donated an amazing total of £2,705 through her own diary and calendar sales, as well as a birthday fundraiser. We are so thankful to all of our supporters and fundraisers, and would encourage anyone who would like to raise money for us to get in touch with our fundraising coordinator Suzanne Drake for assistance and advice.
Crufts 2024
We were one of only three breed rehoming charities invited each year by the Kennel Club to have a charity stand at Crufts, and a team of Trustees, Welfare officers, and other volunteers attended along with their dogs. The aim was to showcase the charity and the rehoming side of the breed, and chat to members of the public about the possible pitfalls of owning a Vizsla. It was a very professional effort, with the team all garbed in matching Vizsla Welfare hoodies, and armed with literature on the charity, the breed, and also on breed health issues, as well as stickers, car magnets, and badges for children. All the dogs present were Vizsla Welfare rehomed dogs with their new adopters and all behaved impeccably throughout the day, which was a very long one for all concerned, starting well before 8am and not finishing until early evening.
The charity stand was fairly near the breed ring but sadly only a couple of the exhibitors/breeders came over to chat, which I feel shows the low level of commitment among breeders in general to the rehoming side of things, although breeders continually add to the number of pups born each year, and obviously to the number of dogs requiring rehoming.
Charity Finances
End-of year Balance
Despite high outgoings, we finished our financial year 2023-24 with a healthy balance of £79,429, which was a considerable increase on our 2022-23 figure of £68,359. Total outgoings were £51,346.
Reserves
As a charity, we want to spend money on our aims. At the same time, we need to ensure financial security as well as the ability to cover sudden large expenses. We understand that if our reserves are too low, our future may be put at risk, but if our reserves are too high, funders and donors may be unwilling to support us. Our higher than anticipated end of year balance was due to the excellent work of our dedicated fundraising team rather than any reluctance on our part to spend money on our stated aims. Our full Reserves Policy can be found on our website.
Assets
No assets are held by the charity at this time.
New Trustee
After many years as an excellent Welfare Officer, in December 2023 Sue Aldous joined our team of Trustees to assist with guiding and developing the charity on a more operational level. She has shown herself to be incredibly dedicated to the charity and we wish her many more years with us.
Welfare Team
We have taken on two more Welfare Officers (Shelley Owens and Elaine Entwistle) to ease the ever-growing burden on the rest of the rehoming team. Both have extensive background knowledge of canines in general and of Vizslas in particular. They have proven to be very good team players, and their addition can only strengthen the charity.
In Summary
2024-25 will no doubt be another busy year, but with our generous donors, fundraisers, volunteers, and fosterers, as well as the behaviourists and trainers with whom we have worked so hard over many years to build excellent working relationships, I know Vizsla Welfare will be there to answer each and every emergency call as and when it comes in.
Sue Millson (Mrs) Charity Chair