Admissions & Capacity Policy
Our approach to wildlife admissions
At CapesWildlifeRescue, the welfare of every animal in our care is our priority. We are committed to providing appropriate, responsible and welfare-led rehabilitation to the wildlife we admit.
As an independent wildlife rescue, our resources, facilities, staffing and available accommodation are finite. We must therefore carefully assess every admission to ensure we can provide the appropriate level of care without compromising the welfare of animals already in our care.
This policy explains how we manage admissions, assess our capacity and make decisions about which animals we can accept.
1. All Admissions Must Be Authorised in Advance
We operate an appointment-based admissions system. We do not accept unannounced animal drop-offs.
Anyone who finds an animal they believe requires assistance must contact CapesWildlifeRescue before travelling to our site.
Our Wildlife Emergency Responders will triage the enquiry, either during the initial contact or by returning the call as soon as a responder becomes available.
During triage, we will gather information about the animal's species, location, circumstances, apparent condition and any immediate welfare concerns.
Following this assessment, we will advise on the most appropriate course of action. Where admission is considered necessary and suitable, an arrival time will be agreed and our site details provided.
Please do not attend our site unless an admission has been agreed and an arrival time confirmed.
This system allows us to prepare for incoming patients, manage our existing caseload and ensure a suitable team member is available to receive the animal safely.
2. Our Triage Process
Every admission request is assessed individually. An animal's presence on our admissions list does not automatically guarantee acceptance.
Our triage process considers:
Species: Whether the animal falls within the species we are equipped and prepared to admit.
Clinical presentation: The reported injuries, illness, behaviour and apparent severity of the animal's condition.
Urgency: Whether immediate intervention is required and what options are available.
Available facilities: Whether appropriate accommodation, equipment and isolation facilities are available.
Staffing and expertise: Whether we can provide the necessary care, monitoring and handling.
Existing caseload: The number and complexity of animals already receiving treatment or rehabilitation.
Welfare considerations: Whether admission to our facility is in the animal's best interests.
Triage decisions are based on the information available at the time. We may request photographs or videos where appropriate, but these do not replace a clinical examination.
Where we cannot offer admission, we will endeavour to provide appropriate guidance or suggest an alternative organisation where possible.
3. Managing Capacity
Our rescue operates with limited space, equipment, staffing and financial resources. Every animal admitted requires suitable accommodation, food, cleaning, monitoring and, where necessary, veterinary assessment and treatment.
We must ensure that accepting additional patients does not compromise the welfare of animals already in our care.
Capacity is therefore assessed on an ongoing basis and may change depending on the species, number and clinical needs of our current patients.
For example, an enclosure being physically empty does not necessarily mean it is suitable or available for another animal. It may be needed for isolation, recovery, species-specific housing or an animal with particular care requirements.
We may temporarily restrict or suspend admissions when our facilities, staffing or resources cannot safely support additional animals.
These decisions are made to protect animal welfare and maintain appropriate standards of care.
4. When We Are at Full Capacity
When CapesWildlifeRescue reaches capacity, we may be unable to accept further admissions, even where an animal appears to require assistance.
We appreciate that this can be distressing for finders who are trying to help an animal in need. However, admitting more animals than we can appropriately accommodate or care for would risk compromising the welfare of every patient.
When we are unable to accept an animal, we will endeavour to provide advice on the next appropriate steps. Where possible, this may include signposting to another suitable wildlife rescue or veterinary practice.
Please understand that alternative organisations also have their own capacity limitations, and we cannot guarantee that another facility will be able to accept the animal.
If the animal is critically injured or requires urgent veterinary attention, please make this clear when contacting us so that we can advise you appropriately.
5. Species and Cases Outside Our Remit
We accept wildlife within the species and case types our facilities, expertise and resources can appropriately support.
We admit selected small mammals, birds, reptiles and hedgehogs. However, we cannot accommodate every species or every clinical presentation.
Some cases may need to be referred elsewhere because of specialist housing requirements, the level of veterinary care needed, long-term welfare considerations or restrictions affecting our ability to provide appropriate rehabilitation.
We do not routinely admit large mammals for long-term rehabilitation and may refer these cases to more suitable specialist organisations.
We do not admit house martins, swifts or swallows.
Where a case falls outside our remit, we will endeavour to offer appropriate advice or signposting, subject to availability.
Please consult our Species We Admit page for further information.
6. Unauthorised Drop-Offs and Site Access
For the safety of our patients, team members, volunteers and visitors, access to our rescue site is controlled.
Animals must not be left at the entrance, outside enclosures, in the admissions area or anywhere else on site without a team member expressly agreeing to receive them.
Unannounced arrivals can place additional pressure on the team, disrupt essential care and leave animals without an appropriate handover or clinical assessment.
Our site is not an open-access drop-off facility, and visitors must not enter animal accommodation or treatment areas without permission.
If you arrive without an agreed admission, we may be unable to receive the animal. Please contact us for advice rather than leaving it unattended.
7. Information Required at Admission
When an admission has been agreed, the finder will be asked to provide relevant information about the animal.
This may include:
The location where the animal was found.
The circumstances of discovery.
Any known injuries, illness or contact with domestic animals.
Any food, fluids, medication or treatment already given.
The time the animal was found and any changes observed.
Contact details and other information required for our records.
An admissions form must be completed and signed during the handover.
Accurate information supports clinical decision-making, appropriate record-keeping and, where possible, the animal's eventual return to the wild.
8. Our Responsibility to Animals Already in Care
Animals admitted to CapesWildlifeRescue remain our responsibility for as long as they are in our care.
Our team must prioritise their feeding, cleaning, medication, monitoring, rehabilitation and other essential welfare needs.
We cannot allow pressure to accept additional admissions to undermine the standard of care provided to existing patients.
Capacity decisions are therefore an important part of our duty to manage the rescue responsibly and ensure that every animal receives appropriate care.
9. What You Can Do to Help
If you find an animal in need, you can help us by:
Contacting us before travelling to the site.
Providing clear and accurate information during triage.
Following the advice given by our team.
Respecting agreed arrival times and site access arrangements.
Understanding that we may be unable to accept every animal.
Allowing time for our responders to return calls when they are dealing with other cases.
Considering a donation or other support to help us maintain our facilities and care for wildlife.
We are grateful to everyone who takes the time to help an animal in need. Responsible admissions management enables us to make the best possible use of our available resources.
Our Commitment
CapesWildlifeRescue will continue to assess admission requests carefully, make welfare-led decisions and work within the limits of our available facilities and resources.
Our priority is not simply to admit as many animals as possible, but to ensure that the animals we accept can receive appropriate care.
Thank you for respecting our admissions process and helping us protect the welfare of the wildlife in our care.