Pictured: Chris the Kitten 

On June 19^th 2023 Saving Strays Animal Rescue was notified that an individual carelessly threw a kitten over a wall into someone’s garden. Fortunately, the kitten was not harmed but the situation could have been far more severe. This act displays a lack of compassion and neglect for the poor animal and demonstrates why acts of cruelty such as this cannot be allowed to continue.  

Pictured: Chris with his new friends 

The kitten (named Chris) is currently being well taken care of by one of Saving Strays Animal Rescue’s heroic fosterers and has even made some new friends as Chris has been greatly welcomed by the fosterer’s other cats. With the selfless help of fosterers, kittens like Chris who have suffered from acts of neglect and cruelty can be looked after and more importantly, be shown compassion and love.  

Chris’ story is more common than you would think and animal cruelty must be stopped, here is what you can do to raise awareness of the issue and how to act against this suffering:  

• Prevention: By educating individuals about the signs and consequences of animal abuse, we can empower them to identify and report instances of cruelty. Early intervention is key to ensuring the safety and well-being of these vulnerable animals. 

• Advocacy: By shining a light on this issue, we can advocate for stronger animal welfare laws and stricter enforcement. Increasing public pressure and engagement can drive policymakers to prioritize the protection of cats and other animals. 

• Report Abuse: If you witness or suspect animal abuse, report it immediately to the relevant authorities, such as your local animal shelter or law enforcement. Providing detailed information can help initiate investigations and ensure the safety of the animal. You can report cruelty or neglect to organisations such as the RSPCA.

• Support Animal Rescues: Contribute to local charities such as Saving Strays Animal Rescue which work tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abused animals. These types of organisations rely on your help not only financially but also on a voluntary basis. Please donate to Saving Strays Animal Rescue and volunteer for us as the newly registered charity always needs as much help as it can get.  

• Do the right thing: If you are struggling to look after your animal and are thinking of abandoning them, please do not hesitate to contact us to surrender your pet. We are a judgment-free charity and it is far safer for both you and the animal to surrender your pet to make sure they are treated well and stay healthy rather than neglecting the animal and leaving it to suffer. 

• Educate Others: Share information about animal abuse and responsible pet ownership with friends, family, and your community. Encourage others to be vigilant and compassionate towards animals. Please share this blog with your friends and loved ones to further help spread this message. 

Saving Strays Animal Rescue does not condone animal cruelty and you shouldn’t either, if you have witnessed anything please act on it using the previous steps and if you are struggling with the responsibility of caring for an animal, please do the right thing for both you and the animal. With these actions hopefully, Chris’ story will not be repeated in the future.

The post The Seriousness of Animal Cruelty – Chris the Kitten’s Story   appeared first on Saving Strays Animal Rescue.

By adopting an animal from Saving Strays Animal Rescue, you provide a loving and secure home to an animal that is in desperate need of shelter and a family. You offer them a fresh start and the opportunity to experience love and care. Adopting helps combat the issue of pet overpopulation and reduces the strain on overcrowded facilities such as SSAR. By choosing adoption, you actively contribute to breaking this cycle of overpopulation and make a positive impact on animal welfare. Adopting animals from shelters is a responsible and ethical choice as it promotes responsible pet ownership and supports the invaluable work of animal rescue organisations. By choosing adoption, you become an advocate for animal welfare and inspire others to follow suit, creating a more compassionate and caring society.

We need your help

Saving Strays Animal Rescue is currently facing an urgent need for people to adopt the animals in their care. The rescue is reaching full capacity and new animals are constantly in need of help, leaving limited space for the fluffy companions. By adopting from SSAR, you can directly save a life and create room for another animal in need. The dedicated staff, volunteers, and fosterers are doing everything they can to provide love and care, but they need your help. Every adoption makes a huge difference, giving these animals a chance at a better life filled with love and happiness. Please adopt from the rescue and be a hero to an animal in desperate need of a loving home.

Who you will be saving

We have many pets in urgent need of your care, for example, the dynamic duo Pinto and Maestro. These beautiful boys are good pals who love playing and chasing each other before cuddling up to sleep. They are gentle and good-natured and talk to each other making the most charming purring noises. They have not been adopted yet and are in desperate need of a loving, caring family, brothers such as Pinto and Maestro are prime examples of why adoption is such a necessary and beneficial cause.

Left to Right: Pinto and Maestro

How to adopt 

1. Online form 

To start your process of adopting your new family member a short form must first be filled out, this includes general details such as your name and address. Please use the following links to find the right form for you.

Cat adoption form: https://bit.ly/3MRtVJq

Dog adoption form: https://bit.ly/45oUGw4

Rabbit adoption form: https://bit.ly/3Mu4Q62

2. House check

At Saving Strays Animal Rescue, the welfare of animals is of the utmost importance, this means that when an animal is adopted, we make certain that they are given a loving, caring home. House checks are required to make sure the environment is safe for the animals. For example, it is important that the cats that are taken in do not live near a main road for the safety of the animal. 

Due to these safety concerns, there are some restrictions on who can adopt based on age and location but many of these can be determined on a case-by-case basis, for more information on restrictions please visit the adoption process.

3. Adoption fees 

A fee is required for adoption, however, compared to other organisations such as puppy farms, it still works out cheaper as the fee includes: 

• 1st and 2nd vaccinations
• Microchipping to the new owner
• Neutering
• Flea treatment for 1 month and worm treatment for 3 months
•  Free pet insurance for 5 weeks

These features are necessary for the health of your animal and can save you more money in the long run. For more information on fees please refer to the adoption application forms linked previously. 

A big thank you from Saving Strays Animal Rescue!

By adopting, you are benefiting numerous animals such as Pinto and Maestro who desperately need your help. From all of us at Saving Strays Animal Rescue, thank you to our heroes who rescue our pets in need. And to those who are considering adoption, please don’t hesitate to contact us to ask our wonderful volunteers any questions; for more information visit our adoption process, and to start your journey of finding your new family member visit pets for adoption. Don’t forget to share this blog with your friends and loved ones so that we can find our animals in need their forever homes.

The post Adopt An Animal From Saving Strays Animal Rescue appeared first on Saving Strays Animal Rescue.

As a pet owner, we all want to ensure that our animals are safe and healthy, which is why we have made this guide to help you to identify the plants that you should make sure your pet stays away from.

Lily of the Valley

This flower is a popular garden favourite but it is extremely toxic to both cats and dogs. If you suspect that these beautiful flowers are growing in your garden – watch out for the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Decreased heart rate
• Seizures

Foxglove

Foxglove is a popular plant that grows wildly in gardens, but again can be toxic to cats and dogs. If your pet shows signs of any of the following, contact a vet immediately:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Lethargy
• Tremors

Rhubarb

Whilst it may seem perfectly safe on the surface, consumption of this plant can lead to rhubarb leaf poisoning which shows in the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Decreased appetite.

Daffodils

We all associate daffodils with spring, and we all enjoy looking at these bright vibrant flowers. However, these pretty plants can lead to catastrophe for your beloved animal – in the form of:  

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• Respiratory and cardiac issues in extreme cases

Bluebells

Bluebells are a common flower often found within the woodland but can be toxic to your pets if digested. This can result in the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Heart and breathing problems in extreme cases

Prevention is Key

Prevention is the key to keeping your pets safe so be sure to research any plants that you bring into your home or garden.

By supervising your animals when outside and ensuring that they are not eating any plants on our list, you may be saving your animals’ lives, ensuring that they stay healthy and save yourself a costly trip to the vets.

Other prevention methods include:

• Keeping any known toxic plants out of reach
• Visiting the toxic plants for cats or toxic plants for dogs website to learn more about additional life-threatening vegetation to avoid

If you suspect that your pet has ingested a poisonous plant, please contact your vet immediately.

Other plants which could be hazardous to your pet

This list is by no means exhaustive, and we would encourage you to do further research to ensure your pet stays safe this summer.

Some additional flowers to watch out for are listed below:

• Foxglove
• Lily
• Crocus Autumn
• Fritillaries
• Peonies
• Begonias
• Carnations
• Buttercups

Additional Resources:

Symptoms of dog poisoning: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/the-common-signs-and-symptoms-of-poisoning-in-dogs/

Symptoms of cat poisoning: https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/poisoning

List of toxic plants for cats – https://www.cats.org.uk/media/12932/outdoor-plants-may-2023.pdf

List of toxic plants for dogs – https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/poisoning-toxicity/e_dg_poisonous_plants

The post Keep Your Pet Safe – Five plants to Avoid this Summer appeared first on Saving Strays Animal Rescue.