Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
BY chance, I travelled back from Brighton recently with a man I met on the train who was, that night, flying to Australia for a year. All he was taking with him was two bags and a coat. I had more than that with me for a day in Brighton.
Travelling light is what our strays do. Hounslow Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) are experts in cats travelling light, bringing with them nothing but themselves except, often, a few kittens.
But, once they reach HAWS, they have everything they need, going into foster care until a permanent home can be found for them.
I’ve visited many of these foster homes and the love for the animals in them is tangible. But more foster carers are needed. HAWS needs fosterers for cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. If you’re not sure if you can look after an animal for the whole of its life, fostering could be for you. All you need is a room and lots of love. You don’t need a garden. Although it helps if the fosterer pays for the animal’s daily needs such as food.
HAWS fund veterinary treatment for fostered animals and offer advice on care. They can
also provide necessary equipment such as pens and bedding.
HAWS can give you an animal for a few days, only occasionally or as long as it takes them to find a home. It’s often possible to foster a mum and her kittens.
At present, due to a lack of foster homes, Cookie is being looked after at a vets. Although obviously a caring environment, this option is not cheap for HAWS. Cookie came into HAWS care as she was living in accommodation where pets were not allowed. She is a young, very friendly, petite cat. She loves to sit looking out of the window, sunbathing. If you think you could home this beautiful girl or if you are interested fostering, see haws-animal.org.uk or call 020 8560 5443.
HAWS also wants to let us know they currently have lots of lovely young mums looking for homes whose kittens have been adopted but the mums have been left behind.
Of course, although they may travel light, one piece of luggage all cats should carry with them is a microchip so if they stray they can be more easily identified. For details see cats.org.uk