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19 March 2023
March saw WAW offer free neutering and chipping to local cats as part of a community neutering campaign, assisting pet owners on benefits or low income in Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn as part of the World Spay Day campaign in February.
The event, held across three days at our on-site neutering clinic saw a record number of 73 cats spayed or castrated, micro-chipped, health-checked and returned to their owners in a bid to help reduce the amount of unwanted and abandoned cats and kittens in the area and promote responsible pet ownership.
The event was made possible by a team of 15 amazing volunteer Vets and Vet Nurses that work in partnership with the charity and dedicated volunteers who supported with collecting and dropping off cats, cleaning and administration.
Veterinary Nurse, Claire Shepherd who helped set up the clinic and organised the volunteers, said:
“There was a desire from vets and vet nurses to volunteer to help animals in need in the UK, and the WAW clinic is a great facility to allow us to do this. We have such a remarkable network of vets and vet nurses all willing to give up their time to help animals locally. They are committed to caring for animals well beyond their daily job and supporting rescues, which are overwhelmed now, due to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and excessive breeding.”
The event, which has intentionally taken place before the weather started to get warm hopes to reduce the annual spike in the numbers of unwanted and abandoned kittens, known as ‘Kitten Season’ which lasts from Spring to late autumn.
Julie Pickett, WAW Trustee commented:
“There is a huge need for community neutering in the Northwest, there are not enough good homes for cats. In the first few months of 2023, WAW has already rehomed 83 cats and kittens, with around 96 waiting to come in and we are just one local charity.
“We hope that the event will help reduce the annual spike in the numbers of unwanted and abandoned kittens, known as ‘Kitten Season,’ which lasts from Spring to late autumn. Most people don’t realise that cats can get pregnant from four months, plus there are the benefits of neutering as neutered cats tend to live longer and happier lives, they are less likely to roam and go missing and male cats are less likely to spray and fight.
“The support from the volunteer vets and vet nurses is immeasurable and we would like to thank each and everyone of them, who along with our volunteers and staff make events like these possible.”
Claire added,
“There is no real excuse for people not to be a responsible pet owner and neuter their cats, there is so much help available. There are schemes like this available from both small local charities across the country as well as larger national charities, such as Cats Protection, schemes that offer free or very low-cost neutering and projects like these break down the barriers people use for not neutering their cats, like affordability or access to transport.”
Special thanks to vet and vet nurse volutneers from; White Cross Vets, Gateacre, Parker and Crowther Vets, Maghull, Bold Veterinary Clinic, St Helens, Gilmore Veterinary Surgery, Wigan and Vets4Pets, Prescot as well as Pauline from Pet Plan!
The event was entirely funded by WAW and we receive no government funding and relies entirely on donations from the public and if you would like to support our work, to allow us to continue to serve the community and reduce the problem of unwanted and abandoned pets you can make a safe secure donation at www.justgiving.com/warringtonanimalwelfare. You can find out more ways to donate here.