I think I'm not alone being active at shelters here, right? How do you cope with the harder elements?
I just.. I love it, I really do. I spend a lot of time with the new cats who've just come in, socialising them and getting them used to that humans = food and attention and that nothing bad will happen. After a few weeks they've often started trusting people and you can pet them. I don't know how many cats that come in and are scared and hisses and growls and then time goes by and next thing you know they're in your lap looking for cuddles. And then they find homes, and I'm so happy for them all! Especially when you get updates or postcards.
But then there's the ones that come in and have been abused or are really sick and haven't gotten the proper care. Some things just hit you harder. My shelter gets cats from a mix of places: previously homeless ones, young kittens where the mom is gone, cats that have run away or been found on the street, the police, etc. Right now the worst one for me is when owners have lost the right to have animals and they come to us. There's so many wellmeaning (or not!) people where it goes wrong and the animals gets hurt.
I thank god that my shelter is a no-kill one, I couldn't stand putting them down. Even so, now and again there's a cat that's so sick that you have to.
There's also the people that'll just dump cats outside of the shelter. Do you also have that? It's still winter here, snow and everything. You can't just dump them! But people do. Of course it's such a great feeling when you find a home for the cats. I just spent some time with an older cat, a beautiful white one around 11-12 years who got dumped outside of the building. Probably the owners tired of her. It was obvious she trusted people and she loves attention. She just found a home this week and now she'll be spoiled, as well she should be. But how could they just dump her?
Wow, this turned out to be quite the novel, huh? Thanks for reading! Some times you just need to let it out. I talk with my co-workers and vent, we all have our favorites that we care for, but when it hits you late at night it's nice to be able to write it down.
No matter what orgainisation you volunteer or work for, or if you do it in your own home just because you love animals, you feel for all of the animals that you have, whether they come and stay or are assessed and passed on to someone else to care for. It is natural. It is also incredibly hard. Anyone who says they can stay totally detached are either lying or should not be doing it. The worst cases are the ones that get you the worst. Luckily, those cases are still out numbered by the ones that are not too bad. I will not say the good ones as it is never good to see an unwanted or mistreated animal. Even now, I can still see the images of some of the worst cases I have seen, as though I only saw them a few hours ago. But, then I think of all of the better cases and all of the animals that have been rehomed. It is easier to see it as an equation = the number of the better is greater than the number of the worse. That is what keeps me going. That and I am greatly involved in dealing with many different organisations and campaigns nationally and internationally. I get involved with changing laws, welfare standards, etc. I deal with MP's, Ambassadors, companies, etc. I strongly believe that better animal and environmental rights and welfare are truly only achievable if everyone - is educated and aware of the truth of what goes on; know the history, correct care, how to look after animals; takes responsibility of their animals and the impact they have on other people and animals and the environment which they live; knows the options they have and where they can go to seek help; see that animals have therapeutic benefits and are an individual choice; etc., etc.
One of the campaigns which is going on at the moment is that landlords, Councils, etc., should not dictate if their tenants have pets. The number of animals that are being dumped, given to centres, being advertised, etc., due to people having to move, go in to care, and being told they cannot keep their animals has enormously increased over the last few years. As long as the animals are cared for and loved, no one has the right to say if someone else can have an animal or not. This is simply against the Animal Wefare Act 2006, the law and DEFRA. There are many more concerning neutering, registration of animals as pets, registration and regulation of who can breed and how often, etc., etc.
There is also so much you can do as an individual or as part of your centre. Do you do school visits? Have welfare meetings in your community? Do leaflets or notices in papers, on community websites, explaining people's options, giving welfare advice, etc? A lot of the reason that people leave their animals outside centres is that they feel they will be judged or prosecuted, even if they have taken the best care of their animals and are doing it as they have no other choice. Last year I dealt with someone whose neighbour had to go in to sheltered housing due to her health. Her neighbour had cats. She looked after the cats for her neighbour in the house they lived in, hoping the home would change their mind and allow her to keep the cats. The neighbour was distraught, not just because she could not keep them, but as she did not want people to think she could not or did not look after them well. Her Son enquired at a centre, where he said he was made to feel like he was the biggest abuser of cats and kicking the cats out on the street. He was so upset. He refused to try anywhere else. Between us, we managed to get the Council to keep her house in her name for an extra two weeks and we got the cats all rehomed together. And the new owners still has the neighbour to visit each week so she can see the cats. This highlights two of the biggest problems we face today. Even I have had incidents where I have been spoken to so appallingly by staff and volunteers in different centres. For some reason some people take the view that they know it all and give the highest level of care and more care and love than anyone else and more full heartedly just because they work or volunteer somewhere. My local centre has lost a tremendous amount of support and has such a terrible reputation and a low adoption rate because of this issue.
In today's times centres cannot be like that. Not just because it looses them donations, etc., but because they are the forefront of advice for animal welfare. I am in no way saying we should be praising people for giving up their animals. What I am saying is we need to be understanding and non-judgemental. It is far better that people take animals willingly in to centres, than have them dumped outside or being taken legally from them. We need to encourage people to ask for help and to go to centres when they cannot cope, cannot keep their animals, for whatever reason it may be.
It is a problem sometimes. I was turned down for a cat a couple of years ago by a local Cats Protection branch because the homechecker had heard a rumour that I was thinking of moving. No call to discuss, no chance to explain, just turned down for a cat that was listed as semi-feral and 'desperate' for a home. I did eventually move 18 months later, but would have been happy for them to check that property too - it seemed a bit much to be so summarily dismissed. More than anything, to be honest, it just struck me as lazy. I was also turned down years ago for not having a cat flap. I personally like the interaction you get in letting cats in and out, I work from home a lot so am usually around to do that, I like to lock my cats in at night and I tend to have older or infirm cats so prefer to be in control of who goes out and when. This was obviously just a difference of opinion in the 'right' way to keep cats .... so I just went to another rescue.
Particularly with small independent rescues, I think part of the problem is inherent in that many of the people that get involved in animal rescue tend to be the sort that prefer cats to humans in the first place. It can mean that they are lacking patience when dealing with potential adoptees, and certainly when dealing with people that want/need to give up their cats. Whilst I understand the feeling, I'm a bit that way inclined myself, I agree it can be counter-productive and not always in the best interests of the cat in question.
I'm very new to cat rescue and fostering, so I don't really have the experience to qualify here - I originally got involved because my own family of five cats (had since kittens) were heading into their late teens and passing on. I wanted to take on older cats to make up the numbers again without stressing out my own oldies with bouncy youngsters, and found a small independent rescue (with no cat flap issues) just down the road. I gradually got more involved, took on an older permament foster with health issues, started taking pics and posting details of cats needing homes online for them, and last year set up an outdoor pen and a spare room and started taking on temporary foster cats. I'm now on inmates 7 and 8.
I've been very lucky in that my experience of fostering has been overwhelmingly positive. The support from the rescue has been great and I've been lucky enough to receive updates on all my rehomed fosters from their new owners. I've had all sorts from strays (including one boy who was seen being thrown out of a car but was so scared it took us months to catch him) to a 6 week old kitten that was found collapsed at the side of a road and an emaciated geriatric (who is now happily settled in as another permanent foster) and it's hugely rewarding to see them blossom and head off into a brighter future. It's tough to say goodbye, but in most cases I've been aware that the cat will actually be much better off in a home of his or her own, and also that I need to put the happiness of my own cats first. I've also found this forum to be very supportive and that helps. If anyone was considering fostering I can only say that I'm really glad that I decided to do it.
I'm sure tougher times will come, but I'll try to concentrate on the positives.
I don't know an easy way to deal with the harder elements, other than have a like minded friend to vent to. I'm fortunate that I've never found it hard to let them go to their new homes, although there has been the odd ones, I've fostered over 200 cats /kittens. I prefer to focus on the positives,we can't help them all but I do the best for the ones I can help. I started because I wanted to have more cats, but quickly realised it wasn't practical financially (I always end up with expensive cats!) , as hard as it can be, I can't imagine giving up.
I have been turned down for not having a cat flap, I only adopt old cats so don't want them out when I'm not, and my neighbour has 5 cats so without a magnetic flap, who knows what would happen (and Buster is the neighbourhood bully, we already have a rota system ). I don't have a policy on cat flaps, I think it should be personal preference. I also disagree with blanket policies on children and roads.
I do think that people who have been doing it a long time have less patience for people giving cats up, I know I find it harder than when I started 10.5 years ago. It's also harder now as there is definitely more pressure on rescues, not only are there more people giving cats up, but there aren't as many people adopting. We had a period of a couple of months last year where we were lucky if we got one homing enquiry a week, and not all were successful, so we had a kitten that was just over 3 months old before he got a home.
Animal lover wrote:In today's times centres cannot be like that. Not just because it looses them donations, etc., but because they are the forefront of advice for animal welfare. I am in no way saying we should be praising people for giving up their animals. What I am saying is we need to be understanding and non-judgemental. It is far better that people take animals willingly in to centres, than have them dumped outside or being taken legally from them. We need to encourage people to ask for help and to go to centres when they cannot cope, cannot keep their animals, for whatever reason it may be.
Animal Lover, I was sitting thinking about this. Whilst I support your point completely, and wouldn't want to discourage you from pursuing it (not that I think I could, I suspect you're made of tougher stuff than that!), in practise it doesn't quite work out like that.
We have a loooong waiting list that goes back months, as do most rescues I'm sure. Some of those on the waiting list are lovely owners who have no choice but to give up their cats and are waiting patiently for a space to come up, or neighours feeding abandoned cats in their area. We do try to help them as quickly as we can, and will try to step up if they have a deadline, but many are struggling to care for cats in difficult circumstances.
However, we frequently get 'emergency' calls for stray cats that someone has caught, cats (some injured) that have been handed into the local vets (with whom we work closely), cats with kittens or cats that have just been dumped in boxes. For those, of course, we move heaven and earth and try to find a space and fit them in, which sadly pushes the more decent owners further down the list.
It's a sad fact that, due to the sheer numbers of unwanted cats, the 'dumped' cat is more likely to get a rescue space. We do try to be understanding and non-judgmental, but at the end of the day we're doing that whilst telling them that, for several months, we will have no space for their cat and those with less sense of responsibility will probably end up dumping their cat anyway. It's a difficult situation.
Animal lover wrote:In today's times centres cannot be like that. Not just because it looses them donations, etc., but because they are the forefront of advice for animal welfare. I am in no way saying we should be praising people for giving up their animals. What I am saying is we need to be understanding and non-judgemental. It is far better that people take animals willingly in to centres, than have them dumped outside or being taken legally from them. We need to encourage people to ask for help and to go to centres when they cannot cope, cannot keep their animals, for whatever reason it may be.
Animal Lover, I was sitting thinking about this. Whilst I support your point completely, and wouldn't want to discourage you from pursuing it (not that I think I could, I suspect you're made of tougher stuff than that!), in practise it doesn't quite work out like that.
We have a loooong waiting list that goes back months, as do most rescues I'm sure. Some of those on the waiting list are lovely owners who have no choice but to give up their cats and are waiting patiently for a space to come up, or neighours feeding abandoned cats in their area. We do try to help them as quickly as we can, and will try to step up if they have a deadline, but many are struggling to care for cats in difficult circumstances.
However, we frequently get 'emergency' calls for stray cats that someone has caught, cats (some injured) that have been handed into the local vets (with whom we work closely), cats with kittens or cats that have just been dumped in boxes. For those, of course, we move heaven and earth and try to find a space and fit them in, which sadly pushes the more decent owners further down the list.
It's a sad fact that, due to the sheer numbers of unwanted cats, the 'dumped' cat is more likely to get a rescue space. We do try to be understanding and non-judgmental, but at the end of the day we're doing that whilst telling them that, for several months, we will have no space for their cat and those with less sense of responsibility will probably end up dumping their cat anyway. It's a difficult situation.
I agree, I've been off sick today so have been answering the phone, 3 people all wanting help with a cat and frustrated when I say our waiting list is about 4 months long and asking me what they are supposed to do? I have no answer for them. Then there's the person who has been waiting for 4 months, last time he emailed I said we'd had an emergency case, so his email this week has used the word emergency, clearly thinking it will help. And it would, except for the fact we've also been asked to take back two kittens we homed last year. I've given up taking details to put on the waiting list. This is the depressing side of the job, I'd love to help some of these people, but we don't have enough fosterers
Crewella, I also completely get your point. I totally understand why rescues have limited resources, spaces, and why they must prioritise. I understand that they cannot simply take every animal that is brought to them. That those in the most need, the worst neglect, have to come first. That the waiting lists are long. I totally understand all of your points.
One of the very strong things that I believe is that the whole picture needs to be looked at and addressed in order to have better animal and environmental rights and welfare. For example, neutering cannot be an 'option' if the cat population is going to be reduced, more kittens means less homes available, means more cats in rescues. I also believe that there needs to be 'centralisation' in animal welfare. For example, the problem of cat flaps in new homes - I have found that some branches of the same organisation will allow cats to go to homes without them, but other branches will not. My problem of trying to adopt indoor cats - The Animal Welfare Act, the Law, and DEFRA, all clearly say cats can be indoor cats as long as they get stimulation and exercise. Some centres allow kittens and cats that have been indoor cats to go to new homes as indoor cats, some centres just allow kittens, some are a right out no. I believe that no healthy animal should ever be put to sleep. As much as I hate it, I understand why some centres do it. I do not agree with it. At the same time I know there are not infinite amounts of homes, spaces and money. That is reality. The RSPCA put to sleep 812 cats last year as they could not find a home for them. Yet, while the RSPCA had great input and were the front reason why the Animal Welfare Act started, as much as they agree with indoor cats and see the benefits, they will only allow cats that have been indoor cats to be rehomed as indoor cats. What I have found is that indoor cats are less likely to end up in, or sire litters that end up in rescues. That is why it is rare for rescues to get indoor cats coming to them to be rehomed. If an indoor cat does end up in a centre it is because of animal hoarding or as it has escaped. These cats are not known to be indoor cats and so will not be homed as indoor cats. A new home should not be assessed on whether they have a cat flap or will have the cats indoors. A new home should be assessed on the individual environment and on the individual care that animal will receive.
Animal welfare laws are set to change, whether in general terms or in specific terms for a set species. For example, one proposal is the Manifesto for Cats, which still has points to be added in MHO. http://www.cats.org.uk/uploads/document ... r_Cats.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
One thing that I also strongly believe is that charities do not push as much as they could. Some do, however, in MHO the majority do not. I have always said, even when I got involved in a small rescue when I was about 7, I said that they need to see themselves as a business. In today's times that is even more true. They need to promote, get sponsorship, get partnerships, fundraise, advertise, do school visits, get in their local community, do open days, do behind the scenes days, etc. There are many people, and businesses, who want to give their time, money, unwanted items, and their skills as decorators, etc., to charities. I know many people who want to be a foster home, many vets who want to give treatment free, etc. Yet, when they have approached charities they have had a no. Why? I also know charities that do not want to 'get out there' as their volunteers and staff do not want to do it, they do not want to approach people or companies and be told no. Why? Most charities seem to have a 'We are here if we are needed' attitude. In MHO a lot of charities, particularly rescues, have a very set view of things and are not willing to be open to new people or ideas. Some are also, and I have seen it first hand, very traditional and not up-to-date with the law or what has been learnt in animal behaviour, etc. Any organisation, whether a for profit or charity, has to move with the times and they have to keep up-to-date with the knowledge, discoveries, etc., of their area of work and they have to network and get themselves out there. I know finances have to go where they are needed, yet so much can be done FOC, or by sponsorship or partnerships.
As you can probably tell, I am very passionate about animals and environmental rights and welfare. I have also had a wide range of experience in these areas for many years, and I am always open minded to new discoveries and ideas. (It just dawned on me how old I am getting lol).
I think part of the reason charities do not push that much is lack of resource /time. A lot of volunteers work as well, which limits what we can do, and there is no point doing school visits etc if it leaves no one caring for the animals.
booktigger, again I agree with you. I know there are limits on what places can do. I know how hard it is, trust me. I rescued my two cats when they were around one week old. They were found born wild by some boys who mistreated them. A neighbour came and got me and I rescued the kittens. I fed them by a syringe every two hours. They both ended up staying. Over the years other kittens were found and brought to me, and as I already had my two cats as well as a lot of other animals (my pets as well as animals, domestic and wild, that I was fostering from babies, rehabilitating or socialising, my home became known as the local zoo or menagerie lol), I called in someone who worked for a local cat rescue who was able to get them fostered. If I could I would have every animal in the world, but I cannot. Can I ask where your rescue is and if you rehome cats as indoor cats?
Some other things to think about: What are your policies on rehoming? Do you allow cats to be indoor cats? If you do, do you state that on your website or leaflets? Is your website, leaflets, etc., kept up-to-date? Do you know who is on your Board of Trustees? Do you know the finances of your rescue? There are so many parts that make up rescues and charities which are not known to the staff or volunteers. Does your rescue actively seek foster homes? What is your foster home criteria? I know someone who fosters all animals for different places. Then, when she decided to give up her car, a rescue place stopped using her even though her vet was only a five minute walk away. A lot of people do not know that rescues need foster homes. What about sponsorship, partnerships, etc? Do you have a say on your rescue and rehoming policies or how money is spent? Just even changing where a centre gets it's food, cat litter, bedding, etc., can have a massive impact on it's finances. Can you contact the Board Members directly? Does your rescue have Patrons? What vets does your rescue use? Do you put up notices in there asking for foster homes, forever homes, etc? A lot of veterinary staff love to foster animals. A lot of people ask vets for good places to get pets from, use that relationship. Ask other rescues to form partnerships with yours. Animals that are a 'long stay' or seem to be over looked, ask to swap them with the same amount of animals of theirs for a couple of months. This really helps to get animals new homes. Some areas have more of one type of dog, cat, etc., than another area. A local rescue here had nearly all Staffies, they were getting looked over. They swapped some of their dogs with some from another rescue who were over looked and within four weeks nearly all were found new homes. It is important to network and build up good relationships with other rescues, who can share facilities, foster homes, etc. Does your rescue have a memorial garden? Do you ask schools to do non uniform days? I understand about not taking the staff or volunteers away from looking after the animals. Has your rescue discussed having a fundraising group? These volunteers are separate from the on-hand ones. Part of having partnerships with other rescues is that you can do joint fund raisers, etc., so it does not take all of your people away. Fund raising does not have to be a big event, or take a huge amount of time or money. What about asking your volunteers to fund raise at work? A simple thing, for example if they work somewhere with a dress code, they could do a dress down day where employees pay £1 to not wear the normal work attire. There are so many things and suggestions I could give.
I do not for one second doubt anyone's commitment to their rescue, whether as a paid member of staff or as a volunteer. I hope no one thinks that. Sometimes it just needs a bit of thinking outside the box, a different point of view, an extra push, etc. I know that at times, it can be disheartening. Sometimes someone giving an 'Hey, how about....' can spur people on and give renewed purpose.
I just thought, ask at local schools if you can do visits and if they would do a fun day to raise money for you? And ask about doing a 'Tea Party' fundraiser too.
booktigger wrote:I think part of the reason charities do not push that much is lack of resource /time. A lot of volunteers work as well, which limits what we can do, and there is no point doing school visits etc if it leaves no one caring for the animals.
That's certainly true of the rescue I volunteer for, and of many independent rescue, I'm sure. I think also that, partly because they are the ones with the time, many people involved in animal rescue are 'of a certain age' and so more likely to hold 'traditional' views on care and less likely to be up on new ideas or even computer literate (this is a huge generalisation, but it is my experience, forgive me!). I think that most people get involved do so because they care for animals, so therefore they tend to focus on the actual hands-on side of it.
You've made me think and look at the bigger picture, Animal Lover. I wasn't aware of the CP's Cat's Manifesto and found it interesting. Much of it, of course, I agreed with.
I'm still chewing over your point about centralisation. I do absolutely agree with you that every potential home and owner should be assessed on their own merits, and I also think should take into consideration the individual cat that they are proposing to adopt. I wonder if it would be necessarily helpful to have a uniform homing policy for all branches, or if one might expect branches in central London to have a different overall view from branches in somewhere like rural Wales?
EDIT: Sorry - cross-posted!
..... and sorry Sage, we seem to have hijacked your thread!
Crewella, have you read the post that I did just before you did yours? If gives some points on how you can fund raise without taking people away from your rescue, and also how to use relationships with other rescues to help with fundraising, fosters, etc.
Centralisation would be a better way of rehoming. It would have universal points that would have to be covered. Those points would be based on the Animal Welfare Act, the Law and DEFRA. Ideally, and this is one thing that I am in discussion with a couple of places about, is that rescues should offer (and give priority to) kittens being rehomed as indoor cats. As well of insuring that all cats that do come in as indoor, go out as indoor. Other cats should be assessed according to their individual behaviour (that is not saying they should be indoor anyway). Kittens that had not yet been outdoors would have no problem being indoor cats. That is recognised by many organisations, behaviourists, etc., as not causing behavioural problems. The same problem goes for rabbits. Some places allow rabbits to be rehomed as indoor rabbits, other places say no. There would be a set yes or no based upon the law which has been put in place by organisations, behaviourists, socialisers, zoologists, etc. Then each perspective new home would be assessed according to their individual environments and to the individual care they would give the animal. It would then take in to account such things as the size of the home, countryside or tower block, time people have to be with the animals, their financial situation, etc. Plus telling the new owner of the law regarding animals wearing ID, etc. I cannot believe how many people do not know that the law states that cats have to wear collars and have ownership ID on them, just the same as dogs. By having clear guidelines good homes could not be refused on something that is an individuals choice, ie indoor cats or cat flap.
I would also like to see centralisation as being a network. A computerised network which connects rescues with each other, it would mean that areas that are in more need of feral cats would be known to cities, it would mean that overflowing rescues would be able to find space easier, over looked animals could be swapped easier, if somewhere has loads of ferrets and somewhere has none and gets asked for them, then swap. I understand that rescues have to think of 'themselves' and not giving their resources to animals from other places, etc., however, I think this needs to change.
I also think that for rabbits, cats, dogs, horses, and similar animals there should be a legal requirement of registration and licencing for each animal. I know this would mean a Government department, just as the dog licence did. When you think of the number of animals in the UK, the registration fee would easily pay the Government for it's work. There are many more areas that I think need regulation - ban on animals in pet shops, ban on ads online and in papers, etc, a regulatory body for the breeding control of animals and of welfare conscious breeders, plus breeds should be stopped if the specifics of that breed causes physical problems for that breed, plus breeds should be stopped if they are breed on the basis of a mutation, ie munchkins.
I could go on, but I will stop lol. This is one thing about looking at the whole picture, it really opens your eyes to different things, and you cannot say that one thing is the problem or needs addressing as each thing has a knock on affect.
Thank you, Animal Lover I did read that post. Some we do, and some we definitely could and will try to do.
Overall, I suspect that you and I would have to agree to disagree on many points as well as the indoor/outdoor question. I'm a bit of an anarchist at heart and I like the fact that rescues come in different flavours - I know that some of the independent rescues were started by people who kicked against decrees from 'on high' in some of the larger rescue organisations and got tired of some of the 'red tape'. If small rescues are putting in their own time, and often money, into rescuing animals in need in their local area I believe that (within reason and the law) they should be able to rehome in their own way and according to their own code of ethics, even if it seems a little misguided, out-of-date or counter-productive by some standards. I think it would be hugely demotivating for people to have to pass cats on to situations that they, personally, were not happy with. Some of the things you suggest are good ideas, but I'd hate to see them foisted on rescues. The problem with centralisation can be that it tries to be 'one size fits all' and can often end up fitting nobody.
Information and education is everything, and discussion of such subjects never hurts. There are other issues too that would really benefit from wider discussion - rehoming FIV cats in particular comes to mind.
By the way, where does it state that it's a legal requirement for cats to wear collars in the UK?
I do, however, wholeheartedly applaud and support your passion and energy. Even if we disagree on some points, we are definitely both fighting on the same side.
I agree with you about people of a certain age Crewella, it has been my experience too.
I also agree with you about centralisation of homing, I would find it demoralising and certain areas do have different requirements - we don't have that many people asking for indoor only cats, although I suspect rescues in London do. To me, the whole point of doing a home visit is to assess each home on an individual basis, and we may suggest a different cat if we think it would be more suitable for that person.
I do apologise for my mistake regarding cats wearing collars. It is not current law for cats in the UK, it is optional, although it is highly recommended by most organisations, and it is looking to be introduced. It is current law for dogs. I was thinking of a few things at once and got ahead of myself lol. The following is a link to The Battersea site and also a copy of the opening statement. It also states cats wearing id in other sites which I do not have the links for saved. Starting from next year it will be law for dogs to be microchipped and to wear collars and id. The same law for cats will follow, and so will the law for microchipping animals such as rabbits, ferrets, etc. Although no date has been set for cats, rabbits, etc., as yet. Sites do recommend that cats wear quick release collars. Being microchipped and wearing id is being made law for dogs and is highly recommended for cats, not just as it is the only way you can be contacted if your pet gets lost, but also due to the recent 'Harvey's Law' change. And also as by law, dogs without collars are to be treated as strays, reported to the authorities, then caught. Currently there is no law concerning cats without collars. There is call for cats without collars to be treated the same way as dogs, especially in view to controlling the cat population. By law if an animal is not claimed within 5 days, they will be put down or sold. If they are claimed in 5 days, you have a certain amount of time to pay for the animals time in kennels and a fine. If you cannot pay or do not pay within that time, the animal will be put down or sold. If they are not sold in a certain amount of time, they will be put down.
My advice to all owners of dogs, cats, rabbits, etc., is to get them microchipped ASAP. To owners of dogs and cats, get them wearing collars and tag id too ASAP. By law the tags should have the owners name, address and telephone number on. A tip is to not put the animals name on, as it makes it easier for someone to lure them away.
http://www.battersea.org.uk/apex/webart ... townership" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Responsible cat ownership
Being a responsible cat owner is not just about feeding your cat properly and taking them to the vet if they are sick or injured. It's also about making sure they wear a collar and ID tag, is microchipped - with your contact details kept up to date - and is vaccinated annually. Here we take a look the various aspects of responsible cat ownership.
booktigger, I did not get a home visit, I did not even get asked any questions! As soon as they heard me say indoor cats, they treated me like I abused animals and said a right out no! How is that treating me as an individual who can give a loving and caring home to a cat? How can they say if I will meet the cats welfare needs? Or if I will give the cat lots of play, stimulation and attention? A home should be judged on the individual environment and people.
Centralisation would not neglect the individual circumstances of the perspective new owners or that of the cat. It would give a yes or no to a 'starting point'. Ie cat flaps. Then it would look at the suitability of each individual home and of each individual animal. Ie 'Do I have to have a cat flap?'. Then looking at whether someone would be at home to open the door, etc. There are people who have different views on things than I do. I have indoor cats, yet some of the cats I have rescued have gone to good homes where the cat goes outside. The point of centralisation is to not let personal views keep animals from going to loving homes where animals will be well cared for and have all of their welfare needs met. I am not a bad owner for having indoor cats and I do not think that people who let cats outside are bad owners. So why is it ok for centres to say I cannot adopt a cat when they have not even looked at my home, or seen my cats to see how happy and healthy they are, etc.? Personal views should not come in to rescuing animals, it is not about how much time or money you have given, it is about animal welfare and loving homes. I understand some people will prefer cats to go outside, but that does not mean indoor cats 'have' behavioural problems, etc. It just means that outdoor and indoor cats live differently. Just like people parent differently and live differently.
I'm confused by your comments about centralisation, what you have said on your last post is exactly why we do a home visit, we look at each home on its own merits and whether the cat they are interested in is suitable, sometimes we suggest a different cat, or with kittens, suggest adopting 2. I don't agree with one of the rescue in my areas blanket policy about children, but they have made that decision because they had cats returned and at the end of the day, they are the ones looking after them so they should be able to make that call.
The centralisation would be a 'starting point' which would apply to all rescues, rehoming centres, etc. This would mean that all rescues have the same policies based on the welfare of the animals and on the accepted terms of welfare according to the law, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and DEFRA.
There would be no blanket policies based on the individual views of people who either volunteer, work, fundraise, or sit on the Board of Trustees, etc. There would be no blanket policies based on how people feel about how much time or money they have put in to looking after the animals in their care. (That is what rescuing entails, if people feel begrudged or entitled because of that, they should not rescue. Rescuing is about the welfare of the animal and getting them a new loving home which meets the accepted welfare needs of the animal).
This would eliminate the problems of indoor cats, cat flaps, children, etc.
There is no reason that cats cannot be homed as indoor cats, or to homes without cat flaps, or to homes with children, etc. By saying you do not home in these situations, (or other blanket policies, whether the animal is a cat or any animal), you are saying those homes are bad homes. They are not. They are saying that those homes do not provide the level of care or meet the welfare needs of the animal. This is not true. By having blanket policies you are automatically keeping animals from going to good homes. (You are also loosing support for your centre and leaving people with little option than to go to the pet trade, which is not what those people want. They want to rescue, but they are not being given a chance).
After that 'starting point' the perspective new home would be judged on it's environment and on the level of care they would receive. Ie size of home, age of people, how much time someone would be there, can they afford the animal, etc. Each home should get a home visit for animals such as cats and dogs, horses, etc. (Some centres only do home visits for dogs).
While in the care of the centres, each animal should be checked by a vet, spayed, microchipped, etc. They should also be assessed individually. Ie does this cat like being fussed, are they showing any signs of distress at not being able to go out side, are they ok with other cats or dogs, etc.
Then the new home should be matched to an animal. Then introductions should take place at the centre to see if they are a fit.
At the moment centres do not all ask the same questions or have the same criteria for home visits. Neither do they have the same assessment basis for animals. (I spent 5 weeks socialising a hamster that was apparently very friendly, it was not when I was asked to see them, by the end of my socialising it was like a different hamster). In MHO if the assessments of the perspective new home and of the animals have been done correctly, then those animals should never be returned. (Some people have said I ask too many questions, look at too many aspects, etc., when looking at rehoming. Yet, none of my animals have been returned. I have had to rescue and rehome young cats as toddlers picked them up by their tails, rats as their cages kept being pulled off the units by toddlers, dogs as the resident cats hated dogs, dogs that grew too big for their environment, etc.).
If each home and animal was assessed individually, and the homes were judged on whether or not they would meet the welfare needs of the animal, and then the homes matched to the suitable animal, then this all would be fine. However, it is not done this way which is wrong.
Right - Do you rehome cats as indoor cats? Yes, either cats that have already been indoor cats or kittens that are homed as pairs or more. We have also assessed a couple of adult cats that are fine with being indoors. (The majority of cat blocks have no outside access, so any behavioural issues would be easy to see). Then assessments of new home and then match the animals to them).
Wrong - Do you rehome cats as indoor cats? No. (This says indoor cat homes are bad homes, do not meet animal welfare needs, denies cats going to good homes and makes them stay longer in centres, or they could end up being put to sleep).
This is a really REALLY interesting thread, and some real food for thought has been raised. Animal Lover, let me give you a brief summary of my situation.... (as brief as I can be lol!)
I used to live in a town where animals were horribly abused and neglected.... Organised dog fighting, foals tied to disused railway tracks all alone and ridden, cats coursed through the streets by greyhounds and lurchers..... You couldn't have dreamed this place up in your worst nightmares, honestly. I spent the best part of ten years living there, and acquired many dogs and cats from the streets. Some I actively STOLE, and have no problem admitting to that fact. As far as I am concerned, it was not stealing, but Animal Liberation Front direct action to prevent immediate suffering and danger. TWICE I came home to young brats setting dogs on one of my elderly cats in her OWN front garden..... (So I TOTALLY understand the indoor cat thing!)
Anyway, I ended up with 48 cats by the time I moved, and 3 dogs. That does not include the multitudes I rescued and rehomed over the years there. I moved to the other side of Ireland, to a 3/4 acre property with an old farmhouse in decent condition. It is on the end of a mile long lane, which leads to a field. The only traffic besides us and the postman is the tractors at certain times of year. I now have 32 cats. I have stopped taking them in as I am a full-time student vet nurse. It is an intense course and I just don't have the time to look after newbies. I have a lot of ferals and FIV+ cats, most of whom came from that awful town.
As the gang are settled here, rehoming now is not a priority. After I qualify that may change. I am not actively helping cats at present, but am working towards the bigger picture really. I let the cats out as there are too many to keep inside, passing germs between them. That is why we (husband and I) bought this property, and hour away from both of our 'jobs'. For the cats to be as safe as possible. They were all on the streets before I took em on, and had zero care. I provide the best life I can, but sadly cannot protect them from everything, and even here there have been a few tragedies, which have truly broken my heart. Hamlet was the WORST, but honestly, read that post with caution.......
I said before that when rehoming, it was a matchmaking game. And it is. I wouldn't like to have anything imposed upon me by some higher authority. I broke with other cat charities in the past because I was accused of dumping cats (which was CERTAINLY not true I can assure you!) when a woman with whom I had arranged to trap a cat with caught him herself and dumped him. I went nuts and threatened her with the police and made her bring me to where she had left him, but I was made out to be a cat dumper......
The higher authorities here in Ireland don't even do home checks for foster homes...... Despite the millions they get in donations. They have left dogsin kennels over bank holiday weekends with no food or water. They kill cats for being feral or for having ringworm. I have ZERO lessons to learn from them. I do the VERY best I can for each individual animal who comes under my care. I would be THRILLED to send a kitten or disabled cat or generally happy-to-be-inside cat to an indoor only home. Not a feral though..... I would certainly go absolutely NUTS if I had to take orders of any kind from the big players here in Ireland...... I have actually rescued litters from some of them doomed to be killed over ringworm for God's sake! They don't know I did...... But good people on the inside in these places rely on people like me who are willing to break rules in order to save cats. All the ones with ringworm were feral, but eventually got tame enough and went to good homes. Not sure if they are allowed out, and don't care so long as they are safe and happy
Catherine raises a good point - a lot of independents are independent for a reason, so I don't know how you could 'police' imposing rules on them - and who would be responsible for that. For the registered charities you may be able to do something through the Charities Commission, but a lot of independents aren't registered, for various reasons (I know one who wasn't because of the need for a committee to be registered), and once you start forcing things like that on independent charities, where do you draw the line? One of my local rescues gives the option of adopting either a vaccinated or unvaccinated cat, and there is no mention of microchipping on their website, so are you saying that should be centralised too?
And bearing in mind we do this voluntarily, and in the case of independents, have to raise enough money to be able to pay for everything, I don't know how you can force certain things on them if they are doing this (quite often) from their own home with their own money because there isn't anyone else able to do it? There aren't enough people involved in cat rescue at the best of times (or we wouldn't have to have a waiting list, or keep giving out other rescue's numbers in the hope they can help), so forcing rescues to do things would reduce that, and then it's the cats who suffer.
I do have to wonder if you would be quite so passionate if you hadn't been turned down for wanting an indoor only cat.
I only know that I disagree with killing cats for having fungal infections. When I started the sanctuary here (which is not a charity and everything comes from my husbands salary!) I just wanted the best for the cats I had ended up with. I did contact the national animal charity asking for help and advice. I made it clear that I was not asking for money, but for someone to come check the premises and advise me on ways to improve. I never got a reply. Enough said. I have NO plans to take advice from them EVER. I do not leave animals over weekends without food or water. I do not kill them for having the human equivalent of athletes foot!
Hi there again Cussypat and good on yer...errm I have relatives in that town including horsebreeding ones...I hope that they see sense regarding animal care, if not, I'm ashamed. However, I don't know; I'm not in touch with any family and have lived in the uk all my life...my first lesson in emergency animal care was brought home to me when my mother's husband told me, when I was 12/13, that he'd run my injured cat to the vet's but that I had to pay for the operation (a pinned femur after a road accident) out of my savings. Hard perhaps, but a good lesson to learn maybe? She lived to a ripe old age.
At the same age I met a family friend who owned a smallholding nearby and filled it with everything that needed rescuing! From owls to pigs to cats to...swans, baby hedgehogs...you name it! She needs her own thread to herself really. Everybody laughed at her but she was one of the formative influences of my life. Anybody on this forum who lives in Wakefield and has heard of Mrs Jessie Mabel Sunderland? She saved countless lives.
I can't begin to compare myself to Mrs S or anybody who does animal rescue. I have rescued a few cats in my time, but they've sort of arrived...'Ere, Lil, got a few biscuits to spare?' A good few have been freeloaders with decent homes, some have been in genuine need and moved in.
But my main point is, if you get known in the neighbourhood for having more than one cat, and liking cats, people (and cats too) look upon you as the local cats' home! (My comments in italics are my private thoughts, but nowadays I might just voice them!)
Errm sorry I've made a mess of the italics but if I try to edit any more my pc might explode lol. But you'll get my drift...
'We've found this kitten. Is it yours?' (No, but I bet it's yours...he had the squits poor lad. I kept him.)
'We're going to Florida at the weekend. Can you...?' (No, because every time I cat sit for you I have to provide the poor old lass with litter and a tray and she's so frail I can't bear to let her out. They put her in a cattery; she was a friendly little soul and probably enjoyed more shelter and attention than they gave her. They weren't pleased though.)
Note pushed through my door - please can you come round and look after Tiddles... (No, I'm not your skivvy. Had got wise to the pushy couple by now.)
A knock on the door after ten at night to act as cat midwife. Not that I really minded; the birth was fascinating, as all births are, and I learned a couple of details I hadn't known before. But I was a bit sweaty and hadn't expected a sudden summons to the confinement. They did have my phone number.
The neighbour who started feeding the ferals across the street and got me hooked in and then said, 'oh I'm not getting involved any more!' I still have two of those ferals and they have been the joy of my life, but still...
Another neighbour who raved on about her dream of a white cat. That pure clean white...(Yeah and what comes out of its backside won't be pure clean and white will it? I know that because your present cats, and your friend's, come over and do it on my cats' astroturf.) One of her cats later disappeared (very conflicting accounts and made me pretty worried) the second she tried to dump on me with the excuse that she was moving, and I hope the poor guy was okay but one of my cats hated him and he would have been very puzzled as to why he was pushed into an enemy cat's house and couldn't get into his own. Also I didn't quite believe she was moving until at last she did.
A comic moment when, enjoying a lie-in, I heard a frantic knocking at the door and opened my bedroom window to find a local kid clutching a huge placid cat. He'd found it on the school field! Poor cat was just doing a little serious mousing and found itself snatched up and rescued. I knew this cat and it had a good home...so please, Tristan (that was his name, bless him) just put it down and go back to school...He took some convincing, but his heart was in the right place, bless him!
Sorry if I sound harsh by the way, but I have only just so much time and space - to say nothing of money.
So, sorry for the novel, but if these are the experiences of an amateur, what on earth do you full-time, proper rescuers and fosterers have to contend with? Sometimes you have to say yes, sometimes you know you're being conned but you still say yes, sometimes you know you're being conned...but the cats still matter...
It isn't the cats who are the problem, it's the people I reckon. And then the rehoming. I knew another cat rescue person in Leeds. She had wall-to-wall cats, many resident (and an isolation room. And an account at the vet's.) She was pretty shrewd but even so, disasters happened. Like the time she rehomed two cats to an apparently good home and then received a complaint that they were being dirty in the house. Now she knew those cats were clean. She went to visit, and spotted the problem immediately. An overflowing cat tray. So she told the owner he would have to keep the tray cleaned. He was most annoyed.
'What do you mean, clean the tray? I poured all the urine off it yesterday!'
Hey everyone, thank you so much for all your thoughtful comments! I have lots of thoughts but I got bit the other day by a new little guy at the shelter and my hand is pretty and big and ouchy right now. I'll write more once the antibiotics have done their job.
booktigger, I have been involved with animal & environmental rights & welfare all my life. My views have always been the same & trying to adopt indoor cats has just confirmed what I already thought.
My briefish history - My Dad's family have land in the country & are lovers of the country, nature & animals, & grow their own fruit & veg. Even when I was born my immediate family had cats & other animals. I have always loved animals & the environment. Growing up with the relations I had, the land & the many animals was absolutely fantastic. I grew up learning to identify different animals, birds, their tracks, I bottle fed lambs, badger watched, picked peas, etc., all in my childhood. By 12 I was training animals, helping to rehabilitate & release wildlife. My relations were involved with estate management, raised their own food, so I learnt about the food chain, the ecosystem, etc., & my interests & involvement in animal & environmental rights & welfare grew. Any thing I did not know, I asked. I learnt young that if you want to know something ask the people in the know, research, do not take someone's answer at face value, be open to different views, look at each detail & ripple effect, look at the whole picture. I learnt that you have to self educate yourself. (By that I do not mean go to school, but find out things). I was a vegi by around 14 & was already active in many organisations, charities. Since then I have learnt about animal behaviour, training & socialising, the environment, ecosystems, species impact both introduced & native, animal grooming, & more. I am involved in many charities & organisations nationally & internationally, MP's, Embassies, international politians, changing animal & environmental laws, etc. I have had many beloved pets, from dogs to ducks. I have rescued, socialised, trained & rehomed many domestic animals. I have rehabilitated, raised & released many wild animals. I am now 40 (good grief lol) & I always want to learn more. Anyone who says they know it all or has had every experience, I basically have no time for.
My favourite quote is 'I have no time for people who bu****it with animals' by Terry Nutkins. People know I am very open minded, will ask if I do not know, sees the whole picture & that I take no nonsense. People come to me with animals they have found or tell me about abused or neglected animals. And have been doing so since I was 8. I do everything & anything for my animals & for those that I take on. I go by word of mouth & by my own experiences as to who I deal directly with. Serious people only please. I know that rescuing means giving your time & money. I do so & have always done so as I love what I do, & I love my own animals dearly. I have issues with people who take on animals, as pets or rescues, then say they cannot afford...., do not have the time.... If that is the case, do not take them on. I have dealt with centres on fundraising where staff have said they hate doing it. IMHO if you work or volunteer for a centre, fundraising is part of it. So is educating people. I strongly encourage people to get involved in things themselves & to see the whole picture, whatever it may be. If someone asks me something, if I can help I will, depending on what it is, I will point them in the right direction. People know I will talk to them straight & that I put animals & the environment first. If someone I knew asked me for cat litter, I would give them it. Otherwise, I would tell them straight "If you cannot afford cat litter, then you should not have the cat". Then I would give details of centres, possible new homes, etc.
I am not saying that you should listen to a clearly unknowledgeable person or party. I strongly believe the Government should have a department to deal with such issues. DEFRA's views are on farms, food production, they are not great for 'neutral' animal welfare issues. IMHO, if the law, the Animal Welfare Act, DEFRA, has been put in place by animal charities, organisations, zoologists, animal behaviourists, etc., then people should know they know what they are talking about. That they can be trusted. I cannot understand why anyone would say a home is not suitable because.... When the law, the Animal Welfare Act, DEFRA, say that those homes are suitable. (Obviously, you would ask the relevant questions so the perspective new owners would be aware of the things needed). (I would never take a cat that is used to going outside & make them indoors, especially not feral). It is all about the individual home & the individual animal. I think people should have more understanding of the issues involved & the ripple effects. I think people should know about the places they help - who is on the board, what their finances are, who their sponsors are, & get involved in them. I know being registered as a charity depends on different things. A lot of people involved in
rescuing do not do it as a profit or as a non-profit. I think there should be a way that organisations & individuals could be listed so they are aware of each other & can work with each other more effectively.
Animal & environmental rights & welfare have come along away, but things are not perfect. So whether we agree or agree to disagree, whether I have given you things to think about, whether you adopt, rescue or foster any animal, work for organisations, donate items, money, time, keep going as the animals need you x
Animal Lover, I think you are wrong.
DEFRA and law etc are absolutely poo when it comes to animal welfare. Even if they were fantastic and actually enforced welfare policies on farms, in accordance with the law (which is NOT done. EU regulations on BASIC welfare issues are broken on farms routinely in 97% of the time across the EU), they could never enforce their rules on private rescues. I agree that you would be a fantastic cat caretaker and I would willingly hand you over many of the cats/kittens I currently have, because you clearly care.
But making laws about what rescues should have as rehoming policy? No way. As I said..... The big players here don't even do home checks for fosterers.....
I do. ALWAYS.
Cussypat, I totally understand your point. Unfortunately, the enforcing of the law, whether nationally or internationally, comes down to money and the priority that the Government, police, individuals, give it. Simply that. Low on the agenda. Money to have staff, to send them to places, to prosecute, etc. It is a catch 22 situation. No money for staff, to make visits, etc., so the more laws get broken, no staff to visit and enforce.... And so it goes on. However, there are great places that obey the law and even surpass it. The law has a greater level of animal welfare standards than ever before. Sadly, political parties do not give animal welfare the priority they should. There is still a great deal of improvements to make in animal welfare all around the world. I wish I could click my fingers and make it a wonderful world for animals. Unfortunately, I cannot. I can only do what I can. The same as any of us. But, in what we do we can affect change in other individuals and in society. Animal centres do need to be regulated and visited. Sadly, there was a huge case a few years ago where a so called centre had such horrific abuse and neglect. If visits, etc., were regulated, law, and mandatory that centre would never have caused the suffering it did. As individuals we can also affect change in others. I think it is great that you do home visits, I think everywhere should. Do you ensure places you deal with do home visits? I never deal with anywhere or anyone that has a lower standard of welfare than I do. If standards are 'set' by individuals, it is surprising any many other people follow.
I think we are pretty much saying the same thing here! I absolutely think that all rescues should be inspected. I am in Ireland, and set up a small cat sanctuary. Before setting up, I went looking into what needed to be done legally, and there is NOTHING! It SHOCKED me! I then contacted the Irish SPCA and sent them an email explaining who I was, and where I was going, and what my plans were. I asked them for advice. I made it VERY clear that I was NOT seeking financial help, but asked if they could send out an inspector at some stage to advise me on how to improve my set-up, or implement any changes in areas that might need attention. Hun..... They never even gave me the grace of a reply!!!!!!!!!! I was actually stunned. I think they see small rescues as competition rather than allies......
I do not deal with other rescues. I learned that the hard way over the years. I do my own thing and help who I can. I accept help from others and give help to others, but I am no longer associated with anyone other than myself and my wonderful husband.
And when I theme a cat/kitten/dog/crow (!) my sole concern is the welfare of the animal. I break rules when I should. I once rehome a cat on Christmas eve. The adoption was arranged weeks before, but the 7 year old got a special thrill thinking the cat came from Santa. The family had beautifully cared fr animals and were personally recommenðed to me by a friend I had previously adopted to. The cat I gave them ADORED children and would chase them to play with them. Every rule broken, but happy cat and happy family!
Of course it's such a great feeling when you find a home for the cats. I just spent some time with an older cat, a beautiful white one around 11-12 years who got dumped outside of the building. Probably the owners tired of her. It was obvious she trusted people and she loves attention. She just found a home this week and now she'll be spoiled, as well she should be. But how could they just dump her? 
