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New homes desperately needed for cats as B.A.R.K.S. reaches saturation
27/07/2023
The charity has been forced to stop accepting new admission as demand surges
B.A.R.K.S. – the animal rescue service in Bodicote – has been forced to stop accepting new admissions in the face of a surge of people handing over their pets and strays. This has left the charity at saturation point.
Organisers say they have seen busy periods in the past, but never at the level they are currently facing.
Its now hoped people will come forward to offer a loving home to a cat or kitten so space can be freed up for other animals in need of a home.
Theresa Grant from B.A.R.K.S. has never had to turn away animals before. She said: “It absolutely awful. I’ve been doing this for 14 years and I’ve never, ever done it. It’s just gone absolutely crazy.
“Yes, it gets busy at certain times of year, but not to the extent that it’s non-stop … virtually every phone call we are getting is an animal to be relinquished not to adopt.”
Its thought that the problem is a mix of post-lockdown issues looking after animals which were taken on when people were at home, exacerbated by the high cost of living.
Currently B.A.R.K.S. is homing around 15 cats and 10 kittens on a temporary basis and another 20 which live there permanently. Other animals are also placed in foster homes.
Anyone who calls the charity is being asked to try and keep going for a couple of weeks and then to call back when hopefully the situation will have eased. Banbury Pet Bank can help with supplies of food and Theresa says vet bills need not be high if you take out insurance.
She said: “To insure a cat isn’t that expensive, but not everyone thinks about it. They insure their car, but don’t think about their cat.”
Anyone who feels they can offer a home to one of B.A.R.K.S. cats or kittens should call the Bodicote Rescue Centre on 07518 658357 or visit the charity’s website.
Theresa said: “If anybody has a space in their home for a nice loving cat rather than going to a breeder please consider a rescue. All our cats are neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, fully fleed and wormed, and they also come with four weeks free pet plan insurance – that is both cats and kittens.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam