A big thank-you to the people who volunteer to help cats
VOLUNTEERS who are committed to cat welfare have been rewarded for their efforts to save pets’ lives.
The Deputy Mayor Councillor John McCarthy and Deputy Mayoress Judy McCarthy attended a Volunteer Thank You Event at Cats Protection Bridgend Adoption Centre on June 10 to present Stars awards to centre volunteers.
The awards, which are part of a special thank you and recognition scheme run by Cats Protection were presented for one year, five year, 10 year, 15 year, 20 year and 25 years of volunteering service in a wide variety of roles including cat care, fostering, fundraising, reception, and feral neutering work.
A special ‘In Memory’ statue was also presented to the family of the late Katie Button, a trap, neuter and return volunteer who sadly died in December from meningitis.
The Deputy Mayor said “We had the pleasure of visiting the Cats Protection Centre at Pant Hirwaun, Bryncethin, to present service awards to volunteers.
“On arrival we received a warm welcome and were shown the work carried out by staff and volunteers, how the cats were looked after before being rehomed and how some volunteers foster cats and kittens, some so young that they need feeding hourly through the day and night.
“We took the opportunity to speak individually to volunteers to hear about their work and stories at the Cats Protection Centre and enjoyed a buffet lunch followed by the awards ceremony.
“It was a great afternoon and we enjoyed it very much.”
Sue John, who has been volunteering since 1971 in various roles including hand rearing of orphan kittens, fundraising and trapping, was awarded a special contribution award for her lifelong commitment to helping cats,
She said: “I am delighted to have received this special award, I have always had a great passion for cats and am glad to have been able to dedicate so many years of my life to helping them.
“It saddens me that my health doesn’t allow me to volunteer as much as I have in the past but I still continue to help in any way I can.”
Other awards presented included a 20-year award to Trevor and Jane Graham and a 15-year award to their son Gareth. The family are all fundraising volunteers but are particularly well known for baking lots of delicious cakes to be sold at open days and other events at the centre.
Ten and five-year awards were presented to Theresa Cooper, Sue and Stephen Emelyn-Jones, Marion Rosser, Hazel Goddard and Janet Sully.