Storm Arwen hit Merseyside on Friday night, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Trees were felled across the region, and homes and businesses suffered damage as winds reached more than 60mph.
Freshfield Animal Rescue, Ince Blundell, was hit in the early hours of Saturday morning, and staff members were shocked by what greeted them when they arrived for work later that day.
READ MORE: Storm Arwen leaves path of destruction in Merseyside after high winds
One of the rescue dogs, Chester, was cowering in the back of his kennel as the storm had ripped the roof off his temporary home.
Debbie Hughes, communications at Freshfield Animal Rescue, who admitted the charity had not expected "anything like that" from the storm.
Debbie said: "We keep the dogs safe and secure during the cold weather.
"The kennel is in two parts, there is the front part where they can get a love and a fuss and do their socialising, and then there’s the back part, which is warm and cosy, where they have their beds and everything like that.
"I don’t think any of us expected it to be as bad as it was, we knew there was going to be a storm, but not like that."
A member of staff arrived early at the sanctuary Saturday morning to find the roof of Chester's kennel gone, the damaged remains lying on the ground a short distance from the kennel.
Debbie said: "Chester wasn’t in his front part, but the noise would have frightened him, he would have been very distressed, the wind howling and tearing the roof straight off.
"But he is absolutely fine, he has been out for his walks and everything."
The area around Ince Blundell suffered damage from falling trees, including one that fell and damaged the fence at the front of the rescue.
Debbie told the ECHO: " It is the last thing we needed really, with our Christmas appeal coming up soon, but we will manage, we will cope, and this is because of our lovely community in Merseyside who have been kind and generous to us over the [almost] 42-years that we have been here.
"With the appeal every little helps, sometimes something as small as two pounds can be the difference we need to make the improvements we need."
She added: "We are proud of our principles being a non-destruct kennel, and we are grateful to everyone who has helped us and who continue to do so."
Today, Freshfields Animal Rescue launches its match funded 2021 Christmas appeal with the aim of making this the "last Christmas" in rescue for animals who are constantly overlooked for adoption.
One donation will make twice the impact on the welfare of the animals at the sanctuary.
Freshfield Animal Rescue said: "Sadly, some animals have a harder time than others in finding a happy ending to their story. They might be that little bit older, or have ongoing medical issues or behavioural problems, linked to past trauma or abuse."
The charity never puts a healthy animal to sleep, so it's more important than ever to free up spaces at the rescue centre.
Helen Stanbury, director of Freshfields, said: "During UK lockdown, 3.2 million 'new pets' were there for us, now due to their owners’ changing circumstances, they are losing their homes and facing uncertain futures.
"We need to be there for them as well as move the animals with us today into the loving homes they deserve."
She added: "It breaks our hearts that dogs like Chester are spending another Christmas with us, when what we desperately want for them is a cosy fireside and a warm lap in their very own home."
There are more than 20 dogs and cats who are about to spend their fourth Christmas at Freshfields.
Freshfields is aiming to raise £30,000 in total to offer financially assisted adoption to pay the ongoing medical and support costs for the animals whose only barrier to a great life, they say, is "the cost".
Helen added: "We are appealing to the public to help us make sure there is no animal left behind. You’ve been there for the animals at Freshfields for over 40 years, and we know that you will help us to meet this challenge too.
Thank you for your amazing support for the animals, we can only be there for them because you are by our side."
For more information or to make a donation towards the Christmas appeal you can visit the website here.
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