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The kittens with Fiona Hawkins, Sarah Clacham and Laura Henshaw of Abbey Vets |
Facebook becomes the social petworking site to save kittens
Vet clinic’s web appeal finds new homes as owners abandon animals due to credit crunch
THE telephone at Abbey Vets was ringing off the hook yesterday (Thursday) after the plight of five kittens sparked an internet storm that reached Parliament.
The five young kittens, who were taken from a home in Essex Road earlier this week, are thought to have become victims of the credit crunch as owners struggle to pay for their animals’ care.
But when staff at the vets in Cross Street, Angel, and neighbouring Jigsaw shop learned of their story, they called on friends and family to help.
Jamie Hodge, the flatmate of Daniella Payet, who works in Jigsaw, sent emails across London, which were circulated among media contacts and friends in Parliament, politicians and activists and posted the cats’ cause on social networking website Facebook yesterday afternoon.
In less than two hours the vets had received more than 150 calls and the cats, all aged between one and two years, had found homes.
Yet the phone continued to ring throughout the Tribune’s visit to the vets.
Laura Henshaw of Abbey Vets said: “There’s just so many animals in shelters so there wasn’t room for them.
“People are abandoning their pets because of the credit crunch.
“When little animals like this come in our hearts melt.
“We didn’t want to see such young lives wasted. Putting them to sleep was not an option.”
She added: “The email has gone everywhere.
“We’ve had about 150 calls already. The Guardian has called. The email must have gone so far. We’ve never had a reaction like this.
“It’s amazing how technology has spread something so quickly. Now, if any other cats come in we can get them homes too.
“We’ve had such an intense response. People can do so much to help.”
The staff have been giving out the details of the Celia Hammond shelter, which has been inundated with pets in recent months, to callers.
Mr Hodge, who sent out the email and caused a Facebook frenzy with the story, said: “I sent out an email, I put it on Facebook and it seems to have circulated half-way around London.
“It’s snowballed. It makes you realise what you can do with technology.”
Islington’s animal warden, who did not wish to be named, said: “Earlier this week, we removed six cats from an address in the Essex Road following a neighbour’s complaint. The kittens were well cared for but living in over-crowded conditions.
“We tried unsuccessfully to rehouse them with animal shelters. They were all full.
“Finally we presented them to the Abbey Veterinary Clinic which fortunately found homes for all of them.
“I am pleased the outcome was so positive on this occasion.”
There is no suggestion the cats were being mistreated or neglected but their numbers were increasing as they had not been neutered.
The service had been very busy with stray dogs since the police handed over the responsibility to councils in 2008.
There had been a 300 per cent increase in stray dog collections, rising from just 40 a year in 2007-2008 to 175 over the past 12 months.
The warden said: “We get hundreds of call-outs a year to strays, abandoned animals and animals people can no longer care for.
“There’s definitely a credit crunch element. People take on animals with the best of intentions but they are unrealistic about the costs of looking after an animal.”
The warden added: “Across London, animal shelters are full, looking after rescued and donated animals. The increase in animals certainly makes it harder to re-home animals in Islington – but that’s our challenge.” |
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