Needs of animals grow during recession

The ongoing recession is not only affecting millions of people in the UK, but is also having a negative effect on the lives of millions of pets, many of whom are finding themselves out on the streets because their owners cannot afford to feed and look after them any longer.

This has been reflected in a recent report from a leading animal shelter in London, which has stated that its waiting list for cats waiting to come into the shelter is longer than it has ever been in the history of the shelter.

Due to a sudden increase in the number of cats looking for shelter most of the one hundred and forty five pens at the shelter are full, and there are still over one hundred and seventy cats on the waiting list to get into the shelter.

Officials from the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home have said that there has been a decrease of 10 percent in the number of people now taking in stray cats, and this has contributed to the high level of cats now waiting and hoping to get a place at the shelter.

An official from the shelter stated: “We are having a cat emergency at Battersea – we have more cats than there are in the entire cattery waiting to come in.”

Another official from the centre said that the sudden increase in cats waiting to come in had been an unexpected one despite the recession, and had left the shelter unprepared. He said: “This summer’s drop in re-homing figures has taken us all by surprise.”

The shelter is now appealing for anyone that is considering getting a pet cat to come forward and see whether they can help to home the cats waiting at the shelter, which would then free up room for cats that are still waiting.

The shelter stated: “We are appealing for anyone who may be thinking of taking on a cat to come in. Some of the cats can be waiting for over a year to find an owner.”

Tags: pet cat, Battersea Cats, Battersea, animal help, emergency, pet, dogs, animal welfare