|
Hi! My name is Dawn and I'm totally responsible for (amongst other things!) what has now come to be known as "Cat Rescue Flintshire"!
For clarification, I would like to state that my "Cat Rescue Flintshire" is totally independent and has no affiliation or connection whatsoever to any other person, rescue or organisation.
I have always been passionate about animal welfare and I have had a lot of birds and animals in my care over the last 24+ years. Most of these have been rescues which I have always tried to ensure have had a good quality of life and all my "work" is from choice and purely voluntary.
Regarding the cats, I started off by helping a friend to trap some feral kittens locally, over 6 years ago. I then realised that nothing at all seemed to be being done with regard to all the un-neutered and un-spayed feral colonies in my area so I decided to try to help to alleviate the situation by starting to trap and neuter as many cats as I could to help reduce the problem. I have been doing this single-handed ever since!
Thanks to Cats Protection, who allocated me continuing neutering grants and some most welcome vet assistance from the RSPCA, I have been able to continue. I've subsequently managed to trap and neuter the cats in many colonies since. Apart from this kind and most welcome assistance, for over 22 years, I've totally funded my rescue efforts out of my own pocket, which, at times, proved to be a real strain on my budget. Otherwise, I am still totally unfunded from any source and I do not qualify for Charity status.
All trapped feral cats are kept for a recuperation period following spaying or neutering to ensure proper recovery and they are also assessed during this period for re-homing potential. Suitable cats are kept and tamed for re-homing whilst only the really wild ones are returned to the familiarity of their colony when I then try to provide food on a regular basis to help sustain them. Extra food is even more important for their wellbeing during the Winter months but it is yet another drain on my stretched resources.
I also started taking in unwanted, neglected, abused, injured and stray cats. Since then, my "guests" have recently grown in number rapidly in a very short space of time, particularly since the closure of our local Rescue as there is now no-one else in my immediate area to turn to. Consequently, I am having a block-built workshop converted and, also, I have just purchased a large new cattery shed and mesh panels to make some outside runs to allow me to provide more suitable permanent accommodation for my "guest" cats. I can't wait for the work to be finished on the workshop and the cattery shed and runs constructed! When finished, their accommodation will be air-conditioned for the Summer and heated for the Winter - spoilt cats, or what?! :-)
All sick or injured cats receive Vet treatment and nursing as necessary and no cat is ever euthanized, except on humane grounds in the event of too severe an injury or illness. All healthy cats are kept until re-homed or, otherwise, I keep them myself. Generally, in my care I usually have around 40 cats and kittens at any given time but obviously this is variable, depending on re-homing successes and also other cats that I need to take in. I have several "problem" cats that are unsuitable for re-homing for various reasons. They are now permanent residents and will continue to live out their lives here. Although I try to never turn any cat or kitten away, I am currently at "maximum capacity", but I am slowly building up a 'network' of like-minded people and, between us, we have had some amazing rescue successes! Hence the continuing need for better accommodation.
I consider that the welfare of any cats entrusted to my care is paramount. Consequently, I never sell any cats as a lot of people seem to want to get a cat on a whim without really thinking it through. Instead, I prefer to rely on voluntary contributions when I re-home cats but then only after all potential new owners have been thoroughly screened and approved. I also carry out home suitability checks prior to any placements being made. After placement, I maintain regular contact with the new owners to check on progress and also to check for any problems that may have arisen since placement.
Should a placed cat prove unsuitable for its new home or owner, I specify, as a condition of placement, that the cat be returned to my care to prevent it being passed on to a possible unsuitable and unscreened home. I have had some great re-homing successes, including two three-legged ones and have also tamed and placed several adult feral cats, all of which helps to make my chosen "work" seem worthwhile! :-)
I would like to say "Hi" and express my sincere gratitude to all all my many friends at Cat Chat (link below), for always being there for me. Thank you also for my December, 2005 'Star Of The Month Award'! You are a great bunch! And to Sue from "My Moggy" (link below) for the most useful microchip scanner that she kindly donated to me and for all her other very kind assistance. Thank you, Sue! Finally, to all my many friends and supporters, whether over here, in Australia, Belgium, Eire, Iraq, Italy, Northern Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain or "across the pond" in Canada or the USA, thank you all for your wonderful help, support and encouragement which has really helped me to get through when the going got tough!
If you have got this far, then thank you for taking the time to read my (lengthy!) "About Me" page! I'd like to thank all previous and future buyers on my eBay listings and to express my sincere gratitude for all the wonderful encouragement that I have so far received. It is so much appreciated and it really does help me to carry on.
All money raised from selling on my eBay listings is used solely and exclusively to help my feral and rescue cats.
If you have any questions or if you think that I can help you in any way, please contact me initially via the eBay "Ask seller a question" link on my listing.
© 2005 Cat Rescue Flintshire
Some recent feedback:
An excellent worthwhile cause, keep up the good work I hope it's a huge successs
|
|
Buyer biiig-mike ( 359 ) |
|
19-Aug-05 21:18 |
|
7707950442 |
After visiting and seeing the amazing work you do for the cats, I applaud you.
|
|
Buyer biiig-mike ( 359) |
|
18-Sep-05 23:51 |
|
7713497825 |
Nice to visit you again Dawn and see your amazing work first hand. A+++++
|
|
Buyer biiig-mike ( 369) |
|
29-Oct-05 22:04 |
|
7721840106 |
keep up the great work you are doing for the cats. I hope to visit again shortly
|
|
Buyer biiig-mike ( 371) |
|
16-Nov-05 14:09 |
|
7725677466 |
|
Keep up the great work, I hope to visit you again, after the Christmas Holidays.
|
|
Buyer biiig-mike ( 378) |
|
13-Dec-05 15:40 |
|
7731667266 |
|
)
)
)
)
) 