Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Rescue & Rehoming => The Rescue Room => Topic started by: JenGeorgieBob on July 26, 2010, 20:48:23 PM

Title: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: JenGeorgieBob on July 26, 2010, 20:48:23 PM
Hi,
sorry if this is in the wrong place, if it is please feel free to move it...
basically I am after some advice, I am considering trying to volunteer for a local cat rescue, I have just finished uni and am on a part-time contract at work to just work weekends, some weeks I get overtime, some I don't, so my volunteering hours would vary week by week. I am starting a Masters in September, so obviously during term time my hours available would dip drastically (up to 4 hours per week would be my max I think) (although I will be leaving my employment in September). I have experience with ferals and semi-ferals as all my cats in the past have been feral-ish and are now (semi) reformed! I am new to having a lovely FIV lap cat called Benji, but it is unusual having a lap cat and I am getting used to it. I think Benji is happy as an only cat, but would like to help with more cats and have contact with more (I am used to having about 5), but with my circumstances, would I be someone that you rescue guys and girls would want to help you out? I was thinking cleaning out and socialising with cats, that kind of volunteering, if so does anyone know of a voluntary place in Ashford? The RSPCA is up the road but I was looking for more independent rescues....
Thanks for any help
Jen
oh and I forgot to mention, in my early teenage years I did volunteer for a wildlife sanctuary, feeding crows and hedgehogs and stuff, so I have done voluntary work, just many years ago
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Angiew on July 26, 2010, 22:25:43 PM
If your in Coventry, give me a ring!!
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Janeyk on July 27, 2010, 07:00:49 AM
Well done for offering Jen  :)


Ashford is Kent area isn't it?

Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Mark on July 27, 2010, 07:10:40 AM
What about Rolvenden cat rescue? (Just outside Tenterden) Not sure if that is close enough?

I went there with Sharon last summer. It is run by a couple that live in a caravan onsite. They also grow & sell flowers.


Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on July 27, 2010, 08:18:00 AM
Check out the rescues on CatChat, and give some a ring, am sure someone will snap your hands off, we certainly would.
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: JenGeorgieBob on July 27, 2010, 11:27:16 AM
oooo, it does sound like I would be useful to some people then...I am in Ashford Kent yes, my only problem is that I cannot drive (my fiance drives me to work and well, basically everywhere, lol) so I would need somewhere local to me, or with a train station nearby, and Rolvenden is a bum to get to...

Thanks for the advice though, I will have a look on the CatChat website and see if I can find somewhere close by...

:)

Jen
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: JenGeorgieBob on July 27, 2010, 11:55:13 AM
oooo, i realised seeing as it is a really short and cheap train ride to canterbury, I could volunteer there! I looked on canterbury cats protection website and they are not looking for cleaning out, socialising kind of people at the moment, but I have sent them an e-mail just in case, so wish me luck! :)

Jen

edited to add, they replied saying they have no way I could help at the moment, so it looks like I will have to try the RSPCA up the road, on the plus side though, their website says they do take in and care for elderly cats and FIV+ ones...
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Mark on July 27, 2010, 15:11:15 PM
I'm one of the Canterbury CP mob - we don't have a cattery. The branch (like most) is all volunteers who work from home, fosterers, phone people, admin, rehoming etc etc. We even have a person who coordinates homechecks. An email will go out to any of us that are in the area that the check needs to be done and hopefully, one of us can do it. It is all a bit ad-hoc but it works (of sorts  :evillaugh: )

In fact, the only CP cattery in the whole of Kent is Bredhurst, near Sittingbourne.

Ashford is a bit of a no-mans-land really. We sometimes get calls from people there and have to direct them the Folkestone and/or Tenterden branches which are their nearest.

As far as the RSPCA goes, I think on a local level, they are totally different to the call-centre which I think needs a complete overhaul - I would say they should be reported but who to? - they really are a law unto themselves.

I have had a few gripes with CP before now and came close to giving up volunteering (not that I do a great deal) until I realised I do it for the cats - as long as we are helping animals, it doesn't matter who it is for. In fact it is better to see it first hand and whistle-blow if you see anything wrong?
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: JenGeorgieBob on July 28, 2010, 09:52:39 AM
well, I had a reply from the RSPCA lady, she did not seem too keen to be honest but said that I should go down and see them, but that it would be hard work (which I assumed it would be) and they may have a couple of mornings where I can help out with cleaning...
maybe she was having a bad day or something though, I will pop down tomorrow and see them (they are closed to the public on Wednesdays)

Bredhurst is where we got Benji from actually, they were lovely there and are having a purpose built FIV unit being done at the moment, but it is a real pain to get to! even in a car!

we shall see how it goes with the RSPCA tomorrow :)

thanks for the advice :)

Jen
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Mark on July 28, 2010, 13:19:08 PM
There is Canterbury Cat Club but not sure what their set up is.

I have a feeling if there are kittens involved they help but otherwise....

I could be wrong but I doubt it.


Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: JenGeorgieBob on July 30, 2010, 12:55:33 PM
well I popped into the RSPCA today and filled in a form, was given a tour and it is very nice in there, although they are overflowing! the handling room has become a sort of nursery, full of kittens in pens having a good old rough and tumble when I walked in. I start on Wednesday, as they are closed to the public then and so have a deep cleaning day :) I am looking forward to it!
(is it strange that I am looking forward to thoroughly cleaning out 25+ cat 'pods' and assorted bedding and trays and yet never look forward to cleaning my own house? lol)

Jen :)
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Janeyk on July 30, 2010, 13:30:31 PM
Sounds great  ;D good luck!
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Kay and Penny on July 30, 2010, 16:37:41 PM
sounds  no stranger than me being jealous :Crazy:

my nearest rescue centre is over 50 miles away
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: paddypaws on July 30, 2010, 18:11:05 PM
Well done....and I think it sounds great!

I have been trying to offer my services to various rescue centres near me in East London for some time now...it seems to be some sort of secret club that I can't gain admittance to.
I have lost count of the number of emails and phone calls I have made to Celia Hammond in Canning Town. I have even driven down there in person and tried to sort it out. No one has ever got back to me. Their site says they are completely overwhelmed with cats and kittens at the moment which breaks my heart. 2 weeks ago I called in and offered to foster a mum and kittens and yet again NO ONE has bothered to get back to me.
I make regular donations to cat charities...but now more and more my money goes to a couple of charities in USA!
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Canterbury_cats (Sharon) on August 01, 2010, 11:09:56 AM
Hello jen
I am the person you originally send the email to about volunteering for us.. As Mark has said (and i hope someone did come back to you as i di forward the email to the person that deals with volunteering).. we do not have a main centre.. However, if  you ever feel like doing more of the mudane work that is involved in rscue then do pls give us a call...Canterbury is a fairly new branch of CP and we are gradually getting our systems in place and working more efficiently but the better we get at it the busier we get and the more peeps we hope to help us with volunteering with... I see you are dealing with the RSPCA now which is great, shame that Rolverden is so hard to get too as they would love a person such as you..Maybe you might consider helping a charity out with web stuff such as updating a website page etc.. on catchat...
Anyhows all the best and i am glad you found something
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on August 01, 2010, 11:50:04 AM
Good luck!!
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: JenGeorgieBob on August 04, 2010, 13:36:23 PM
just thought I would update, I am back from my volunteering morning and it was quite fun! Everyone is very friendly and they have some lovely cats and kittens there.
I fell head over heels for a lovely little black cat called Arlene. I was cleaning out her pod and she decided that my head needed a good rubbing and head butting, my glasses needed licking, she needed some cuddles and my arms needed poking and licking! Then she stood up and she has had one leg removed! but she is so lovely and affectionate, makes me wish I could have another cat!
so I will be back cleaning again next wednesday! :)

Jen
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on August 04, 2010, 14:22:42 PM
ahhhh excellent.  So pleased you are enjoying it and it is going well and that you have made a new friend  ;)
Title: Re: could I volunteer at a rescue?
Post by: Janeyk on August 04, 2010, 16:43:00 PM
 ;D that's great news! glad you're enjoying helping out, Arlene sounds sweet  :)