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Battersea bursting with orphan kittens
Battersea bursting with orphan kittens
Cattery team leader Sakura Anderson
Maternity ward is stretched to breaking point as charity prepares for Kitten Shower

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have announced that they are filled to the brim with orphan kittens.  

Over the last three months, the rescue centre has taken in 107 stray or unwanted kittens under 12 weeks old - a 91 per cent increase on the same period last year. The maternity ward has 16 postnatal pens, which are smaller to make mothers feel secure, but the centre say that mums and feline orphans have now spilled over into a total of 24 pens in the London cattery.

Sakura Anderson, cattery team leader, said: "From April to September we're normally very busy with litters because the warmer weather brings out cats' instincts to mate. However, due to London's high population of un-neutered cats, we've now been stretched to breaking point and our maternity ward is overflowing."

Battersea cares for around 250 cats across its three centres at any one time and re-homes across the UK. Staff aim to rehouse kittens at nine weeks old, once they have been neutered, fully vaccinated and microchipped.

On July 24, Battersea will be holding a Kitten Shower to mark all of the kittens' safe arrivals and to let animal lovers meet some of its furry residents. The Kitten Shower will have kitten crèches, where people can book to play with the kitten and learn about the importance of caring for your pet from Battersea's cat experts.

Sakura added: “Our Kitten Shower event couldn’t have come at a better time, it’s vital that we show animal lovers how many homeless cats and kittens there are looking for homes and how important it is to neuter your cat so we can reduce the growing population of unwanted animals.”
 
A whole host of activities will be on offer at the Kitten Shower, including a chance to name some new arrivals and lots of activities for ‘human’ youngsters including arts, crafts and games. Tickets for the Kitten Shower are £5 for an adult, £3 for children under 16 and children under three-years-old can visit the event for free.
 
Cat rehoming will be available at the London Cattery. For more information call 0843 509 4444.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.