Adoptapaws: Animal charity's van destroyed and dumped in "absolutely devasting" theft in Sheffield

Adoptapaws UK Rescue, a registered charity in South Yorkshire, works tirelessly to rescue and rehome dogs from across the UK.

This morning (Wednesday, April 23), that mission came to a halt when trustee Vicki Baker got the call that the charity’s van had been stolen.

The van, which had been left at a garage in Hillsborough for servicing, was declared stolen at 8.30am. Just two hours later, it was found dumped in woodland – stripped of its engine and ransacked.

“This has devastated our small charity,” said trustee Vicki Baker.

“We’re just a small, independent rescue – we can’t withstand big events like this.”

On an average day, Adoptapaws receives up to 30 calls from people trying to surrender animals – dogs, cats, even guinea pigs. But today, Vicki said, they’ve had to turn them all away.

“We can’t transport the animals, or even get to them, no matter how serious the case is,” she said.

“It’s absolutely gutting, today was meant to be a normal, busy day – and instead it’s just stopped. It’s impossible to carry on as usual without our van.”

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The van was not only their main form of transport, it was also stocked up in preparation for the "All About Dogs" show at Newark Showground this weekend – an event where they planned to fundraise, raise awareness and offer emergency support to visitors. Now, they may not be able to attend.

Worse still, among the stolen and discarded items was a defibrillator, recently purchased in memory of a beloved friend and supporter, Malc Nichols, who tragically died of a heart attack last year.

“If there had been a defib nearby, maybe he would still be here,” said Vicki.

“We worked so hard to raise the money, to be ready in case someone else ever needed it. We named it ‘Malc’, in his honour. We don’t even know if it survived – we’re just praying.”

The equipment and supplies were strewn across woodland, just off Clay Wheels lane, where volunteers and trustees are now searching in the hope of salvaging anything usable.

“The front of the van is gone, and the contents have been dumped in the woods. It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” Vicki added.

“This wasn’t random, no one just walks around with the tools to remove an engine - it was a planned attack.”

She described the act as “shocking” and “cruel,” pointing out that the van clearly displayed the charity’s branding.

“It’s bad enough to steal a van – but one with pictures of rescue dogs and the word ‘charity’ on it? It’s something you just don’t do,” she said.

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Despite the devastation, Vicki and the team at Adoptapaws remain determined to continue their work.

Adoptapaws UK Rescue is a passionate community of animal lovers working for the benefit and well-being of rescue dogs. Their mission is to help dogs in need by rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for them before finding them their perfect forever homes.

The charity prides itself on a compassionate, flexible approach. Unlike some rescues, Adoptapaws has no rigid criteria for adoption. Instead, every application is assessed on its own merit, ensuring each dog goes to a home that suits them best.

For more on Adoptapaws’ work or to support them, visit their website.

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