Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
NO surprise there, then. The RSPCA have decided that the cattery at Southall is to close, after all.
If you remember when the RSPCA announced the closures of Putney Animal Hospital and Southall Clinic plus two animal centres in Surrey, there was hope that Southall cattery would be taken over by another charity and remain open.
But this was not to be and the RSPCA have, disappointingly, just announced its closure. Anyone who has been to Southall cattery or adopted a cat from there will know what a beautiful place it is with some of the best cattery rehoming pens around.
These closures are tragic with far-reaching consequences for animals. It’s not surprising these devastating decisions to close our local frontline services have made national news in The Sunday Times and on television.
There was more disappointment for Bertie’s owner today. Two weeks ago, I told how Bertie, a cockapoo, had been lost, in April, on the South Downs. His distraught owner, an Emergency Medicine Consultant has spent every spare moment since he was lost looking for him. But Bertie had disappeared without trace.
For the past few days, the doctor has been anxiously waiting to see if Bertie was among nearly fifty dogs found following a police raid in Orpington.
There was a dog, in the photos of dogs found at the site, which looked identical to Bertie. But, after an agonisingly long wait, the doctor was told today, it wasn’t Bertie. The process of identifying these animals and reuniting them with their owners highlights the importance of microchipping our pets and, with an increasing incidence of pet theft, keeping them closely under our wing.
Enough disappointment, let’s focus on some good news. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is going from strength to strength. They have produced a free Pet Care Guide containing advice on toxic foods, body language, training and recipes for our pet. To get your copy, go to battersea.org.uk.
Hopefully future owners of Joey will know how to care for him properly. Joey is a friendly boy who enjoys company. He’s got an independent side and prefers interactions to be on his terms but he will happily enjoy strokes and lap cuddles when he’s in the mood. If you’re interested in homing Joey, contact Battersea Old Windsor on 01784 494 460 or email bowcat.rehomers@battersea.org.uk.
Don’t forget, if you miss a week, you can read this Animal Rescue column online at ealinganimalsfair.london. Go to the Home Page and click on the Weekly Column tab.