The Warrington Animal Centre, initially called the Harold Hallwood Home for Animals, was established largely due to a 20,000 legacy from Tom Forster in memory of his beloved cat, Tibby After receiving planning permission in 1981, we welcomed our first animals three years later, starting with just two dog kennels and no cat pens.

During a harsh winter, we had to use the office, toilet, and shower room to shelter those first arrivals. The Centre's development took several years, primarily driven by the volunteer efforts of Harold Hallwood, who sadly passed in November 2009, while serving as vice-chairman of the branch. Since its inception, the has undergone significant transformations, including a brief moment of fame when we regularly appeared on Channel 4's "Pet Rescue" in the late 199s.

In 2003, we constructed a new dog kennel block for animals brought in by National RSPCA Inspectors who required extra care, allowing us to also accommodate nursing mothers and their puppies. By 2008, we completed a new cattery, a dog isolation unit sick animals, and a small veterinary space, a project that cost £720,000 and involved years of fundraising and donations, including a generous £150,000 RSPCA Altram. The grand opening of this state-of-the-art facility was celebrated with a fantastic event hosted by Sam Aston, known for his role as Chesney Batby-Brown in Coronation Street!