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Battersea collaborates with iCatCare to improve cat welfare
The plans will support long term, global cat population management.
The CFH programme aims to promote more strategic rehoming.

Battersea has collaborated with International Cat Care (iCatCare) to develop a new programme, which hopes to promote more proactive and strategic working with rehoming.

The Cat Friendly Homing (CFH) programme will work to assist the rescue sector with becoming more professional and sustainable.

The CFH programme’s principles state that each cat should be treated as an individual case, with only suitable pets being rehomed and no cat being worse off from human intervention. It aims to limit the time cats are spent in rescue centres or confinement, and neuter all cats at the earliest opportunity.

The plans will see veterinary training provided on key subjects such as neutering and shelter medicine. It will also see experts and organisations from different disciplines contributing to handle cat population management together.

It is hoped that that these plans will support long term, global cat population management.

The programme has been funded by a three-year grant from Battersea, as the rescue charity marks its 140th anniversary. It forms part of Battersea’s Global Programmes strategy, which sees it work with organisations across the UK and internationally.

Last year saw Battersea award 20 grants to rescue centres and organisations across six countries, helping nearly 350,000 dogs and cats.

Vicky Halls, head of unowned cats at iCatCare, said: “Now is the time for us to adapt, stop the never-ending cycle of reactivity and make a change for cat welfare.

“Cat Friendly Homing, an iCatCare initiative, represents a shift to a more proactive way of working that will not only tackle the problem at a population level, but also help more unowned pet cats to achieve the outcome that best suits their needs.”

Roxanne Nazir, head of grants and programmes at Battersea, said: “We are proud to support such an ambitious programme and as we mark our 140th anniversary of helping cats, there couldn’t be a better time to announce this collaboration.

“We cannot wait to see the impact this work begins to have on feline welfare and the rehoming sector over the next three years and beyond.”

Image © Battersea

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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.