Rescue, Rehabilitation, Rehoming and Owner Support across Clackmannanshire

Our shelter seeks to go beyond finding homes for cats, we provide a wrap-around service, seeking to create lasting change for our local community. We see more cats being surrendered from loving homes due to the cost-of-living crisis, and financial pressures. Therefore, we are now a Blue Cross Distribution Centre, and pet food bank site, to support owners to retain ownership of their beloved animals. We seek to enhance this provision further. We would also like to increase our ability to provide financial aid to owners to help with vet bills where possible. With increased costs, we need support to ensure we are able to continue to ensure every cat in our care is fully vaccinated, up to date with flea and wormer treatments, and neutered/spayed ahead of going to their new homes (unless under 6 months old). Lack of awareness/education is a huge issue locally, and so we week to establish sessions and 1:1 support for potential and new owners to better understand what being a cat owner means, daily expenses, importance of insurance, etc. Our shelter is based in Alloa South East, one of the most deprived areas locally, and indeed, in Scotland (SIMD data). We are also working with local group “Alloa in Bloom” to transform what was wasteland to the rear of our building, into a community garden, which will also supply our local food bank with fresh fruit and vegetables. We would love to also expand this work to create a memorial garden, as a space for people to reflect, and remember their beloved pets.

Through this project, we expect to:- increase owner awareness and understanding of cat care, microchipping, vaccinations, insurance, and spaying/neutering.- increase our provision of financial support for owners (currently, vet bills are around £5,000 per quarter).- Ensure every cat in our care is provided the best care, rehabilitation, nourishment, and treatment possible until they find their forever home.- increase capacity of, and create resources to better promote our pet food bank.