December 2008 - Newsletter!
Welcome to the December newsletter of Sunny Harbour Cat & Kitten Rescue. If you are having difficulty viewing our newsletter you can view it online by clicking here.
November has been a good month for Sunny Harbour in terms of homing with a number of cats arriving at our door and finding new homes very quickly. This has been especially so as it left our pens relatively 'quiet' for a short time enabling us to start works on the new pen areas.
This work could not have been accomplished however without the efforts of a wonderful lady, Lisa Ross. Lisa held a jewellery party night to raise funds for Sunny Harbour and her local motorbike race team. This fun packed evening raised a wonderful £136 for Sunny Harbour and enabling us to purchase the last of the materials required to complete the build of the new pen areas.
So a huge THANK YOU! goes out to Lisa and her family for all their hard work and time.
The new pen areas have been specifically designed to allow for more comfortable and roomy accommodation for each cat in our care, whilst ensuring we can maintain and improve on our already effective hygiene and disease control measures. Due to the build of the new pens it has also meant that we can accommodate an extra 2 cats at any one time thus helping even more cats in need.
Thanks must also go to my wonderful hubby Paul for all his hard work and late nights making sure the pens were ready in record time.
Busy First Year
Since forming officially in June of this year Sunny Harbour Cat Rescue has aided and rehomed a staggering 54 cats and kittens. Many of these cats have come from difficult circumstances, many with health issues or behavioral problems which we have overcome to find them new loving homes.
Cats such as Maya, Abs, Cole and others are now living happy, carefree lives with their new families and it always brings a huge smile to our faces to receive updates and especially pictures of how they are doing in their new homes.
More recently we have had 2 oldies join us after their owner died suddenly. Monday & Penny are both suffering with long term health issues and at approx 18 - 19 years of age will be living out the rest of their days with us here at Sunny Harbour. This extremely affectionate duo are currently undergoing veterinary care and treatment and thanks to our strict NO KILL policy we will be doing our utmost to ensure they are comfortable and cared for with lots of love in their remaining time with us.
Sadly, there is a cost to looking after all of these furbabes and in the case of Monday & Penny their vet bill has risen to £200 already. Every month we must find hundreds of pounds to pay for food, litter and essential vaccinations, neutering, wormers and veterinary care.
We work very hard to do this with our online / in rescue shop and through attending regular car boot sales to raise the much needed funds. Staff work on a volunteer basis only and receive no pay or benefits for the work that we do therefore ensuring every penny raised goes directly to the cats.
We are constantly on the look out for good quality items that we can sell to raise funds at car boot sales, so if you are having a clear out after opening all your new gifts at Xmas, please remember us and the cats as we desperately need to raise funds over the winter months when we close for adoptions.
There are other ways that you can help the cats too either by purchasing from our shop items or by donating monthly to the cats to help pay for their food and veterinary care. If you would like to consider donating to Sunny Harbour monthly then please request one of our Standing Order forms or alternatively it can be downloaded from our website here.
Xmas at Sunny Harbour
As it approaches Xmas please spare a thought for the little one's that will be spending Xmas with us here at Sunny Harbour. We do our utmost to make their time with us as happy as possible. However those with us now, will be with us until we re-open for adoptions in the 2nd week of January 2009!
Can you believe it! 2009 already. This year just seems to have flown in.
We are currently hoping to get some new toys, scratchers and of course turkey treat for our residents for Xmas and are currently running a Xmas Fund Appeal on our website for anyone who would like to put some money in the pot to help us furnish out the new pens with little luxuries such as scratchers and new toys. Alternatively if you have any toys, etc you would like to send in for the cats Xmas we would be very very grateful.
We are running this separately to our normal funds as we desperately need every penny in our main funds for veterinary care and medications.
Festive Contact with Sunny Harbour
Sunny Harbour Cat Rescue will close for homing adoptions from the 7th December until the 2nd week in January. We will however remain open for admissions and emergencies.
The 24 hour emergency line will remain open at all times during the festive season.
The advice / enquiry line will be open all days except the 25th & 26th December and the 1st of January. Any messages taken will have their calls returned when we re-open except in the case of emergencies which will be actioned immediately.
Emergency Contact Number: 07912 682079
Missing Cats Alert
Yet again it would appear that there is the steady increase in the number of missing cats in the Edinburgh and Fife areas in the lead up to Xmas. Every year there is a steady increase in the number of cats disappearing from October to December.
We would ask everyone to bear the following points in mind if your cat goes outdoors;
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Bring your cat in as soon as it starts to get dark outside.
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If you are going to work or out for the day always bring your cat indoors.
The most common times for cats going missing is at night or when cats are sitting waiting on their owners coming home. Please ensure they are safe and indoors at such times.
Despite their lovely furry coat cats will still feel the cold and should you not be in they will try to find somewhere warm to rest and hide from the elements. Be aware of this and if your cat does go missing remember to check all sheds, garages, outbuildings, bins, hedges, cars, offices, homes, etc to locate them.
If your cat has gone missing recently remember to register them with our lost and found service and check our page of advice and tips by clicking here.
Competition Time!
Christmas is here with presents to be won...
Have you done all your Christmas shopping yet? If not, then visit our shopping website - http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/sunnyharbourckr - click on the retailer links to go shopping, and we'll raise funds from EVERY purchase you make! Best of all, IT WON'T COST YOU A PENNY EXTRA!! There's over 600 great retailers to shop with including Amazon, Next, M&S, GAME, Argos, John Lewis, Play.com, M&S, Boots, Thorntons, Currys, Comet, DELL plus many more. Try it and see. So far, the site has raised over £500,000 for good causes around the UK, and remember, this is a great way for you to raise funds for us because it doesn't cost you anything extra to do so!
You'll also find over 100 exclusive 'credit crunch busting' offers and codes that could help reduce the cost of your purchases, like 'save 10% across Early Learning Centre's entire site', and 'save 20% on selected sports and leisure goods with Argos'.
And if you have finished buying presents for everyone else, grab yourself a bargain! Many retailers have already started their sales and slashing their costs, so you'll find plenty of 20%+ off sales, and most retailers have now passed back the VAT reductions in their price.
And there's over £5000 worth of prizes to be won in the easyfundraising festive 'Advent Calendar competition', including the grand prize of a Samsung 32" LCD TV + home cinema system + Xbox 360. Entry is completely free and there's a new prize to be won every day!
http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/sunnyharbourckr
OR!!!
Win £5000 to spend in Argos!
What’s Up For Grabs?
Fancy having £5,000 to spend at Argos and earning £250 for Sunny Harbour Cat & Kitten Rescue? We’ve teamed up with Argos to give one easyfundraising member a Christmas present they’ll never forget.
Until December 24th when you reserve online and collect in-store with Argos, you'll be entered into easyfundraising's free prize draw to win an amazing £5,000 to spend AND a £250 donation for Sunny Harbour Cat & Kitten Rescue! Check & Reserve is the simplest way to beat the crowds to the most-wanted gifts at Argos. Check the latest prices online, reserve your items so they’re ready and waiting for you in-store.
How Can I Enter?
• When you login to easyfundraising and visit Argos to reserve your shopping online and collect in-store, you'll be entered into the free prize draw to win £5,000 to spend at Argos AND a £250 donation to Sunny Harbour Cat & Kitten Rescue
• Plus, for every entry, you'll earn a 25p donation for Sunny Harbour Cat & Kitten Rescue
• Maximum one entry per person per day
Residents Update
New Arrivals
Nobo
Nobo was a wonderful affectionate little boy who after spending a couple of weeks at the rescue went forward for homing and was adopted very quickly.
He is such a wonderful little character and we miss him lots. We have received updates to say he is doing brilliantly in his new home read more.....
Snowbelle
Snowbelle was a beautiful little lady who with her friend Static has really been through some rough times. Snowbelle was very lucky to be the first of the duo to find her new home where she is thriving and doing fantastically well. read more....
Static
Static has since become known as Mystic and at the time of writing this newsletter Mystic has just found her new forever home. We feel it is the perfect environment for her and are thrilled that after 2 long months with us she has finally found the ability to trust humans again. We are looking forward to an update on this wonderful little girl soon. read more....
Charlie
Charlie is the most adorable little 5 month old kitten who has come to us after his owners moved away and left him behind. The sweetest of natures Charlie has already has us fall head over heels for him!
Monday & Penny
Monday & Penny came to us about 3 weeks ago after the sudden death of their elderly owner. Both cats are in their late teens and suffering from various health issues related to their age. Both have been blood tested and found to be suffering from Hyperthyroidism which is causing a rush of hormones into their blood stream and is putting strain on their existing heart murmers and putting them in danger of heart failure. They are currently under veterinary care and are receiving medication for their condition which is starting to show signs of improvement.
We are currently running an appeal as funds at the rescue are low and Monday & Penny's current veterinary bill stands at just over £200. If anyone would like to help either by a monetary donation to their appeal fund or by donating goods that we can sell at our car boots to raise funds for them we would be ever so grateful for any support.
Resident Updates
Cole
Cole is settling in brilliantly well in his new home and is making himself truly at home. He has 2 new wonderful friends to play with and is spoilt rotten with affection. We were thrilled to receive photo's and an update which can be read here....
Cheeky & Smokie
This delightful, affectionate little duo are doing brilliantly in their new home and have really made themselves at home. They are doted on by their new family and have just found their new freedom of the garden and are loving every minute of it. More updates on their new home can be found here...
Ash
Ash has finally found her forever home after being with us for nearly 3 months. She recovered and is now living with her new family and loving every minute of it.
Ash's full story can be read here....
Jack & Peaches
Now known as Bailey and Kintra this absolutely gorgeous little duo are spoilt rotten in their new home. They have 2 new cat friends and more recently a little puppy to contend with that they find rather bemusing. Lates updates and photos are on their profile here.....
Lucy
We were delighted to get the chance to visit with Lucy (was Ruby), sister to Roxy, just after our return from holiday. She is looking great and well and truly has her new daddy wrapped around her little paws.
Lucy's full story can be read here....
Please remember that if you have adopted one of our previous charges we love to hear how they are doing and of course, pictures are fantastic too. It always makes us smile to read the great stories of how happy our babies are now especially when we deal day in day out with the hardships they face.
We never forget them and are always in our thoughts throughout the year.
We would like to wish all of our readers, furbabes and their new families a very special Christmas and a wonderful New Year in 2009!
Our heartfelt thanks goes to everyone who has helped us do so much good in the last 6 months and we look forward to continuing our hard work in 2009 to help many more unwanted and abandoned cats and kittens.
Remember to send us any questions or comments for
inclusion in our Newsletter
We hope that you have enjoyed the December issue of Sunny Harbour's newsletter and until next time please take care and keep safe!
Hugs n Purrs
Sarah, Paul & The Gang
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