Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert MARION GARNETT, founder of the Ealing Animal Welfare Bazaar, continues her column
TOBY is a total treasure. All he wanted to do was sit on my lap.
When, reluctantly, he had to move, he immediately settled on my coat. If you want a lap cat, Toby could be your man.
Since the moment he spied me approaching his pen at the Adoption Centre, he made it clear he wanted human company.
He’s friendly, chatty – your heart melts when you’re with him. I could have sat there stroking him forever. Toby came into the care of the RSPCA on August Bank Holiday Monday (thank goodness there is some outof-hours care for stray animals, even if it’s not perfect) with an injured tail. It had to be amputated but he has recovered well.
If you would like to home this affectionate boy, you can meet him at the RSPCA Cat Adoption Centre, in Southall. The centre would welcome volunteers to help, particularly at weekends. Phone 0300 123 0746 to apply. In contrast to spending time with the gentle Toby, I’ve just spent the evening in the company of several zom
bies at Thorpe Park Fright Night. One zombie has just been smiling for a selfie – not scary at all. But this time of year, with Halloween and fireworks, can be frightening, especially for animals. It’s a time of year when many pets go missing as they take off in fear.
Make sure your dogs and cats are in early during firework nights. Close all the windows and doors and block cat/dog flaps to stop them escaping. Make sure your dog or cat has somewhere to hide which they can access at all times. It can help to prepare a den with some old clothes, where your pet can feel safe. Try and avoid leaving your pet alone during potentially upsetting nights.
Don’t forget small animals that may normally live outside. If possible bring hutches and enclosures into a quiet room indoors or into a shed.
Give your pet lots of extra bedding to burrow in to feel safe. If you can’t bring them in, partly cover any aviaries or hutches with thick blankets or a duvet to deaden the sound of the bangs but make sure there is enough ventilation and ensure your pet is still able to look out.