How many animals have been re-homed since the start of the charity?

Our current number stands at 1950. The majority have been re-homed and others have been transferred to other rescue charities when we have run out of space. The number signifies all those who have come into Four Paws’ care. We are due to reach our 2000^th dog and we are hoping to have a surprise celebration for the family who will be adopting the 2000^th dog.

How many active members have you got?

At present we have 30 active foster carers, 4 trustees and approximately 30 fundraising volunteers. No one at Four Paws receives a wage; we are all volunteering our time and skills.

Like any good animal charity Four Paws has a strict vetting policy and the requirements can be found on their website here Can you explain why you have such strict criteria?

Some people may see our procedures as being quite strict, however our main concern is always the welfare of the animal and the prospective owners. Many of the animals that come to us have been unwanted, neglected and sometimes abused. It is our duty to make sure they are treated with love and kindness in their next home.

One of the many dogs up for adoption - copyright Four Paws Animal Rescue (SW)

When do you turn people down?

The main reason we may turn an application down is when we have lots of applications for the same dog. It is inevitable some people will be disappointed, but we try to match the most suitable home to the dog so it is never a personal reflection of the applicant.

We also may turn people down if their current animals are not vaccinated or neutered. We also have a policy where we do not home with children under the age of five.

The hardest reason we may have to turn people down is, if they are planning on leaving a dog for longer than four hours. We know that this is a difficulty for many people but it is important to note that many rescue dogs have abandonment issues and for some dogs over four hours is too long to be away from their human companions. We never home a puppy where they will be left for more than 3 hours as we feel they need input into behaviour and training whilst they are small.

You mainly re-home dogs and have currently one cat in care. Why is that?

The reason Four Paws Animal Rescue focuses mainly on dogs is that they are more at risk of needlessly being killed at the pound. We have taken in many animals over the years including cats, birds and even a ferret! As a charity we find homing cats very difficult and as a consequence we have a limited number of spaces to be able to help them. We have recognised that there are many cats out there that need help and as a result we have recently been helping spay female cats to help the unwanted kitten problem.

Five year old Mandu is currently the only cat in care and in desperate need of a loving home as he's been with the charity for quite some time - copyright Four Paws Animal Rescue (SW)

What other animal charities do you work with to re-home and help for example cats in need?

We work with many other charities to help our animals, and for cats we often refer people who need help to Cats Protection, the RSPCA and Catwell.

What kind of dogs are the most difficult to re-home?

Brindled male Staffys! Any bull breed is hard to home but if it is a brindle colour they have been known to stay with us for up to a year. We also have difficulty finding foster homes for bull breeds due to their stereotypes, despite the fact that they are possibly the most loving breed.

One of the many dogs up for adoption - copyright Four Paws Animal Rescue (SW)

And what kind of dogs are the easiest to find homes for?

Any pedigree dogs that come to us such as Cavaliers, Spaniels, Yorkies etc. The smaller the dog the easier it is to re-home. We also have a great deal of interest when we have puppies, unless they are bull breed pups of course!

You have private fosterers as well as kennels – is that correct?

We do not have a rescue centre but a network of foster carers who dedicate their time and love to their foster dogs whilst helping them find a forever home. When we can not find a foster home for a dog we rent a kennel from a local boarding kennel. This is very expensive for us but necessary when a dog needs quarantining or has behavioural issues they need help with.

The recession has a negative effect on pet ownership. How much has the amount of animals in care increased since 2008?

The rates of dogs being handed into the pound has risen exponentially since 2008! We tripled our re-homing rates in the first year of the recession. We also have a hand-in list where people apply to hand their dogs in to us. Traditionally there have always been around 30 dogs waiting to come to us, however since the recession we have had a static number of 120 on our waiting list. It is devastating to see how many people have lost their jobs, homes and the financial means to continue looking after their furry companions.

What is the most common reason people have brought in a dog to re-home?

The main reason people hand their dogs in to us is that they can not cope with behavioural issues such as separation anxiety, toilet training or aggression. Some of these are quite simple to deal with and others not so. Therefore it always reminds us that training and socialising a dog at a young age is vital in making it a happy and healthy animal. Another common reason is the arrival of a new family member and we often see people handing dogs in as they are unable to cope with a new baby and a dog or they are worried how the dog would react to a new baby.

Readers will be interested to know how they can help animals in need. What does Four Paws mostly need, not only in terms of donations, but practical help?

Four Paws Animal Rescue is always looking for people who would like to foster. We look for people who spend quite a lot of time at home, enjoy walking and can help a rescue dog adjust to family life.

We know that not many people can foster so there is plenty of other things to do. We are always looking for people to help us run stalls at events, hold a tin outside pets at home or run your own fundraising event!

Whatever you decide to do, please feel free to come and be part of our online community where you will find lots of dog lovers, friends and practical animal owning advice.

What has been the biggest challenge for the charity?

The biggest challenge for our charity was rescuing the two Springer spaniels Bertie and Wooster. They were dumped in the pound to be put to sleep, but rescued by Four Paws. After a short period in a foster home they were re-homed. After two weeks in their new home we received a phone call to say that Bertie was going to be put down by the vet due to a spinal injury. On further inspection it turned out that Wooster had run head first into his brother crushing his spine. The family had not taken out pet insurance and as a result could not afford treatment and so agreed to have him euthanized. FPAR retrieved both, Bertie and Wooster, and spent several thousand pounds on life saving surgery for Bertie. Bertie is now living permanently with his foster carer who adopted him. Wooster has his very own home where he swims in a lake every day. It was a challenge emotionally and financially for a very small charity, but we knew that it was our duty to do the very best for our animals.

And what has been the biggest success?

Our foster carers are our biggest success! Without them FPAR couldn’t save the dogs that we have. We have a lot to thank them for. One other success is that Kirsty Thomas, the founder of the charity, won the Dogs Trust Award for “A Dog’s Best Friend”. It was wonderful to see her rewarded for all her hard work.

What are your future plans for the charity?

One day we hope to have our own rescue centre. It is a long way off but we hope to realise it one day.

When’s the next big charity event?

10^th December 2011 – Christmas Event at Buttrills Community Centre, North Walk, Barry, CF62 8BX

Thank you very much for the interview Seran.

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Dusty's paw marks - copyright Paul White 2009

It’s snowing and the country is in panic mode. I really don’t get it. It snows every winter – so by now everyone should be well prepared. In Germany when it snows and you want to use your car by law you have to have winter tyres. Anyway the news is full of snow features, but what about our furry friends – in my case – our cat?

Bobby thinking about going out - © Helen White 2010

Bobby has an odd relationship with the snow – she goes out and is surprised, then appalled and goes nuts. She runs back in through her cat flap like a cartoon cat, meows in protest and vents her frustration – because by that time her paws are frozen. I usually pick her up – which leads to a vehement protest, because she hates it – and try to warm her paws and then I put the fire on. As the cold always makes her very hungry she tends to eat a lot and demands extra food – which means that I spend some time just stroking her back while she eats. I know it’s weird, but ever since she was a kitten she needed protection while she’s eating. I sometimes wonder how she manages when we are away. Obviously she does, because she never appears to be thinner than before our holiday. After she has warmed up and she has eaten Bobby has already forgotten the snow – and is off again, and the ritual is repeated until – hurray she finally gets tired and demands to be tucked under our blanket on our bed. She loves her little cave – it keeps her warm and she thinks nobody will find her. It happens a lot that she somehow wraps herself up in there, when the bed is not made, and we can’t find her for ages!

..and she's off. - © Helen White 2010

So Bobby and snow is a strange one. Dusty on the other hand, who is a Norwegian Forest and therefore being able to cope with zero to sub zero temperatures comes naturally to her, loves snow. She is happy to go out and she looks so beautiful in her more natural habitat. Her already fluffy fur puffs up even more and she looks funny when she runs around. She can spend much longer in the snow than Bobs.

Dusty running towards the camera - copyright Paul White 2009

Dusty on the balcony - copyright Paul White 2009

Last week I have received a press release from Cats Protection on the subject of cats and snow and I would like to share their advice.

If you own a young cats who has never seen or been in the snow before: consider letting her wander in a safe and enclosed area like your garden and accompany her.

Wipe off road grit and other substances from your cat’s paws and fur when your cat comes in.

If your cats have access to outside, provide some shelter like a cardboard box partially covered with plastic sheets.

Keep doors to your sheds and other outbuildings shut or wedged open so cats don’t become trapped.

Always check under cars and the bonnet of your car before starting the engine – cats may have climbed into your vehicle for extra warmth!

If you provide your cat with an outdoor source of water, make sure it doesn’t freeze. Always make sure your cat has clean fresh water available inside if the outdoor source is not accessible.

Always check if you cat flap is still in working order and not frozen over or blocked by snow. If you let your cat wander further, then let them only outside when the temperatures are highest and traffic levels are lowest – though I have to admit I find this one a bit odd. During the day it’s obviously warmer but it’s also very busy, while at night it’s freezing but less busy. So basically it’s best not to let your moggie wander to far.

Cats with Arthritis need extra warmth on a snowy day, because the cold can severely affect inflamed joints. So it’s best to provide additional warm and comfortable places for your cat to rest or sleep. Also ensure that her resting places are easy to access and not too high up and that she can easily access her chosen toileting site.

Cats are at a much higher risk of being run over, stolen or maltreated by nasty people when it’s dark– so it’s highly recommended to keep them in at this time.

And finally if you haven’t got pet insurance, consider taking one out for your own piece of mind. Vet bills can get very expensive.

Enjoy the snow, but protect your cat from freezing.

Dusty's paw marks - copyright Paul White 2009

We adopted our moggie from CP in Cardiff and if it was up to me I would adopt another one – but Bobby might not be too happy about that. I will give it a few more years when she is older and then definitely adopt another cat. I can’t honestly imagine my life without cats, they make the best pets.

So if you consider buying a cat – check out CP’s adoption centres first or ask your local branch (which may not have an adoption centre) if they have cats in care. Ours was cared for by lovely foster carers, who became friends of mine, and not from an adoption centre as Cardiff hasn’t got one. 

 Here is a link to CP: http://www.cats.org.uk/

The first two weeks with Harry and Bobby were quite stressful. I was worried about Paul’s allergy and he and Harry just didn’t see eye-to-eye. When we met both cats for the first time Harry couldn’t care less while Bobby, who was a skinny flea infested thing with an eye infection, instantly charmed her way into our hearts. She spent considerable time on both our laps and clearly wanted us to take her home. Harry just ignored us. That should have been a clear warning.

Harry had a sad history; his original owners kept him in a small flat and didn’t treat him properly. When they split up they couldn’t agree as to who should keep him and he ended up at the local CP branch. Harry had no concept of the word no and kept jumping on kitchen surfaces. Paul despaired in the mornings. I liked Harry. He was a cuddly cat with issues. The problem was that Bobby didn’t use her litter tray, despite there being 3 in our house. Instead she weed in her basket or on the floor. She also didn’t eat enough which was a problem because she was infested with ear mites, anaemic and diagnosed with a heart murmur (which is completely gone). The vet didn’t think she would make it. Bobby’s history is very upsetting She was found fending for herself in a bin in Rumney, when she was just a few weeks old. The people who found her waited first to see if her mother would come back. That didn’t happen, so they kept her for a short period of time and then informed PC. She was very mellow in those early days. It didn’t take long for us to find out why this kitten didn’t use her litter tray. Harry was simply bullying her – he would pounce on her when she was trying to eat and obstructing the litter tray. It was awful to witness really. The final straw was when she weed on the kitchen floor, after numerous attempts to use the litter tray. The same evening I phoned his fosterer Kate and the next day Harry went back to her. It was a happy end for all concerned -Kate missed Harry very much and decided to keep him, I missed peace and harmony, and Bobby started to blossom.

It was hard for me to give him back, but I think we made the right decision. I dread to think what would have happened otherwise.

The first night without Harry we worried that Bobby would miss him. After all they often curled up together. She didn’t. Instead she was finally able to climb on board of our bed for a cuddle. She never weed on the floor again.

Bobby is now three years old and when we adopted her in 2005 it was finally reason enough for Paul to propose.

Paul found out that he isn’t allergic after all, which was good news for us.

Bobby is a very protected cat. We live near a very busy road and the thought, that she could get killed by a car is unbearable. That’s why we secured the garden as much as we can and got her used to walking on a leash.

Bobby is a semi-housecat and she is very fond of us. She is a true people cat. I wonder what she would make of a kitten, because I would love to eventually adopt another kitten.

She is quite different from Freddy. Bobby is only young and still very playful, she is affectionate but not a lap cat. She can talk for Britain. She is very vocal. Bobby loves cuddles in the mornings when she visits us on the bed, but hates being picked up. She has peculiar habits and one might stem from the time when she was fending for herself or when Harry prevented her from eating: she comes up to us and demands a cuddle while she eats. Or she wants a cuddle on the living room table – not hygienic, I know - I think it’s the height she seeks. Bobby is very clean, smells lovely and is very funny. This cat certainly has a sense of humour. She loves to catch your leg when you don’t expect her to and always has her claws in and she always looks like she is chuffed with herself when she gets hold of you. She is very friendly and good-natured.

But she is also very needy and seeks a lot of reassurance.

Lately we have started walking her further a field in a forest (The Wenallt). She loves those walks. We make sure we seek out a quiet spot where we won’t meet dogs or many people.

I know people think we are nuts – but we discovered we are not the only ones who walk their cat. Check out this website: http://www.torrens.org.uk/Cats/

I wasn’t always a cat crazy person – I grew up with a cute black mongrel called Blacky for the first 9 years of my life and cried buckets when we buried her in my grandmother’s garden. I also had a canary and two budgies for a while when I was about seven. Unfortunately they didn’t live long. My hamsters (I had three in succession, not at the same time obviously) didn’t fare better and my mother was quite fed up with burying them and told me that I couldn’t have another one.

Cats didn’t feature in my life until I was 14 and we spent three lovely weeks in a rented private house in Oxford, where my stepfather used to study before he moved to Cologne. The holiday was great, mainly because it was a surprisingly warm summer and we had two furry visitors, two beautiful Russian Blues who were owned by a lovely old lady who originally came from Austria. They were called Loverboy or short LB and Missy.

Missy was a very friendly cat, who came every day into our kitchen for cuddles and play, while LB was often busy patrolling his territory. His owner rarely saw him and occasionally got very worried. I cried buckets when we left. The same happened on our next holiday in Vienna where we spent three weeks in a friend’s flat in the first district. I was 15 and obsessed with Mozart at the time so I spent a lot of my time traipsing around town to find the houses Mozart used to live in – or what was left of them. And I often shared my bed with Pipsy, our friends’ beautiful black and white mog. Pipsy couldn’t go out and was mainly confined to the flat and he often snored!

As luck would have it my aunt’s cat Marilyn got pregnant the following year and she had 6 kittens. I visited them a lot and my mum was as besotted with them as I was. We both set our eyes on Freddy who was often ignored by her mother and very friendly. Unfortunately pets were not aloud in the flat we lived in at the time, but my mother possessed the power of persuasion and the landlady agreed that if all neighbours were happy we could keep the cat. Though originally she suggested I should just get a gold fish. My mum started a petition in the house and all neighbours invited her in and were only too happy to sign. When she came back with the good news she was filled up with liquor and quite sizzled.

So at the age of 16 I finally got my first cat Freddy, the most beautiful petite black and white moggie (I will put up some photos of her). Freddy was a very special cat, very affectionate, nosy and loyal. She was very attached to me. She was my best friend, who went through my ups and downs at school and got me through my break-ups with various boyfriends. Things changed when my sister was born in 1992 and I had to move out. I couldn’t take Freddy with me because it would have been cruel. I lived in a one-room flat. So I visited her as often as I could, which was a lot in the first year as I had the neighbours from hell. I would sleep on my parents’ couch a lot. Which suited them fine as they could go to the pub while I was taking care of my sister. Freddy had to get used to my sister, which wasn’t always easy.

When I prepared my travel to New Zealand in 2000 my main concern was that Freddy was healthy and that nothing would happened to her while I was away, so I went to the vet to get an all clear. I wouldn’t have travelled otherwise.

I missed her a lot during those three months. Things got harder when I moved to Hamburg and then to Kiel, as I couldn’t be with Freddy as much as I wanted to. The last time I saw her was when she came for a morning cuddle and parked herself on my chest purring and kneading away. Later that morning she went outside and when I wanted to give her a goodbye cuddle I couldn’t find her. I was upset. Worse was to come when my mum rang me a week later to tell me that she was missing. It was awful not to know what happened to Freddy. I created posters, went home, and looked everywhere in the neighbourhood, distributed my posters and rang rescue shelters. I even checked the local park. We never found Freddy. She was 14 and a half and had a fulfilled cat life – and it seemed she probably just wanted to die alone. Not being able to bury her and say goodbye was truly horrible. I buried her brush instead in my grandmother’s garden, which is a bit like an animal cemetery these days, and she surprisingly understood, though she is not a cat person. She said that one of her brothers went missing during WW2 and so she could relate to how I felt.

Freddy was a lovely cat. I still miss her a lot. I never thought I would want another cat. On our holidays I would cuddle stray cats. And eventually I joined the local Cats Protection branch where I worked as Press Officer and was in charge of their website for a while. This meant that I had to upload photos of cats in want of a home and I got to see them first.  Two cats caught our eyes. Harry, a black and white tom, probably about 6 months old, and Bobby. It wasn’t difficult to persuade my husband Paul to adopt them both, because they apparently got on well together according to their fosterer and my friend Kate. The only problem was that Paul always maintained that he is allergic to cats. He certainly reacts to horses and dogs.

Read on what happened in my next entry.