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A milestone in RSPCA history
RSPCA Shop Volunteers ivoled in the fund raising for the new centre PA1050-3 Marlene Everingham, Sheila Jowett,Kay Harrison, Rita Bailey
A BRIDLINGTON animal charity has had the best Christmas present it could wish for.
After 13 years of fund-raising, the Bridlington and District branch of the RSPCA will have its own £220,000 purpose-built cattery in the New Year.
Work has already started on the 16-cat unit, the only one of its kind in East Yorkshire, which puts the local branch streets ahead of the rest.
For the group’s 100 or so volunteers it is milestone in the branch’s history, and should be open by the spring.
It is also a remarkable tribute to the fund-raising efforts of just a handful of volunteers who have raised more than £60,000 of the total in their long-running ‘Buy a Brick’ appeal through sheer hard work.
Kay Harrison, 63, the branch treasurer for 17 years, said it had been a long struggle but well worth it.
“We have never had a cattery. We have had to find anywhere we could to care for them, boarding them out of our area, in homes, vets, and elsewhere.
“Having this new building will improve their care and mean round the clock access, which in turn should lead to more cats being rehomed,” said Kay.
The branch, which serves an estimated population of more than 60,000 in Bridlington, Driffield and surrounding villages including Hunmanby, looked at various options for getting its own much needed cattery.
After consultation with the RSPCA Charity Commissioners it was decided the best option was to build it at Carr Lane Kennels in Nafferton, where it has boarded its dogs since 1990, and more recently cats in temporary facilities until the new cattery is ready.
The charity has already refurbished its kennel block, fitting new PVCu windows and doors and extra windows to make the block lighter and airier during the summer.
There is better access for visitors and prospective new owners. All the individual kennels have been tiled and the dogs will benefit from underfloor heating when the weather is cold.
As well as 16 cat units, the new cattery, created by specialist designers, will include a vet treatment room, socialisation room for prospective owners to get to know the animals better, a reception area and toilet facilities for visitors, a kitchen, laundry, food preparation area and storage facilities.
It also includes a dog shower room and two isolation kennels so they can be neutered before they leave and have somewhere quiet and comfortable to recover from surgery.
They will also be used for poorly or frightened dogs until they are fit enough to be transferred into the normal kennel block. The cattery will be run by existing staff at Carr Lane.
Mrs Harrison said: “When we looked at the option of building it and running it ourselves it did not make financial sense.
“It would have meant we would have to staff it properly, including facilities for them to live in to provide 24/7 cover. We could not afford to build it and also run it.”
She explained the branch running costs of around £3,000 a week would not change.
She said: “Our fund-raising activities fall into two sections.
“There is the fund-raising team which works to keep the branch going, that includes the shop, and then the Buy a Brick appeal team which has raised more than £60,000 of the money for the new cattery. The rest has come from bequests and donations.”
She paid tribute to the three Buy a Brick volunteers who have spent the last 13 years bringing in the money.
Sheila Jowett, 76, Marlene Everingham, 69 and Rita Bailey, 66 turning up at events, running tombolas, sponsored walks, flag days and knitting, making soft toys to sell and more.
Mrs Harrison said: “They have done a magnificent job, it is sheer hard work but they have done it.
“It has been a very long hard road to get to this stage. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the years with this venture, and we still need their support.
“The fund-raising will have to continue as normal to help keep the branch going.”
During this year the Bridlington and District branch – one of the largest in the region – has managed to rehome 160 cats and kittens, as well as 95 dogs, 52 rabbits, and 41 small animals and birds.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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