Torbay Blue Cross seeking foster carers for cats.
A Torquay charity is appealing to local animal lovers to become foster volunteers to help them cope with increasing numbers of unwanted and abandoned cats. With over 8,000 unwanted and abandoned pets abandoned taken in at Blue Cross rehoming centres across the country last year, the fostering scheme is one of the pet charity's newest ways to increase the number of animals it can help. Jill Furnace decided to start fostering for Blue Cross when her 13-year-old daughter asked for a kitten. She explained: "Fostering is a really nice way to enjoy having cats and kittens around without a permanent commitment to having a pet of your own. Although it can be a bit emotional when they go, it is good to know you have helped them to find a happy new home." Jill is currently caring for kittens Maurice and Milo who were born at the Blue Cross rehoming centre in Torbay after their mum Mya was given up when she was pregnant. Mya and three of her kittens have already found new homes, but Milo and Morris continue to be overlooked. The pair have really bonded and are looking for a home where they can stay together. Jill said: "Milo and Maurice are such a lively pair with lovely loud purrs. They love to be around people and are great company – they would make fantastic pets." Tim Sillis, Blue Cross centre manager in Torbay, said: "In the last few years we have been overwhelmed with unwanted pregnant cats and litters of kittens. As we only have a limited amount of space here at the centre, volunteers like Jill do a fantastic job helping us to help as many pets as we can. "The animals our fosterers care for are often kittens and who really benefit from spending their first few weeks in a real home, also cats who are poorly and need some time to recover or those who might be stressed in the cattery environment." If you would like to find out more about becoming a Blue Cross foster volunteer or volunteer driver, please call the centre on 0300 777 1550 or email kelly.hennequin@bluecross.org.uk. Foster volunteers should have experience of caring for cats and live within 30 to 45 minutes' drive of the Blue Cross rehoming centre in Watcombe, Torquay. All pet food, vet treatment and other related costs are covered by Blue Cross. Blue Cross finds new homes and provides veterinary treatment for thousands of pets every year, funded entirely by public donations. To find more or to make a donation, visit www.bluecross.org.uk
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2 Comments
by devon_guy
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:15PM
“I'm not surprised they have so many cats wanting homes if my experience of them is typical. I had a cat from them years ago who lived to old age. After she had died, I went back to adopt another one. Half the cats I looked at and expressed an interest in I was told were reserved despite signs on the pens saying the opposite. I was told they would call me when a suitable cat came in. They took my details and 6 years later I'm still waiting for that phone call. The staff were rude and couldn't have cared less. I went to cats protection league instead and the whole experience was the complete opposite!”
by nicold
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 3:23PM
“No one heard of paragraphs?”