The top 10 moustache cats in Rescue Centres for Movember :)

Hi everyone! As you all know it's Movember at the moment, so I thought I'd make a list of the top 10 cats in local rescue and rehoming centres sporting markings that look like a moustache! :3

10: Kicking off at number 10 is Hodge at Tag Pet Rescue - Thanet.

"Hello my name is Hodge. I am 7 years old and came to TAG because my owner could not afford to keep me anymore. I was a little shy when I first came to TAG but now I'm really loving and will happily take all the cuddles and strokes you can give!! I'm a mature cat so you don’t have to worry about litter training. I'm very well behaved, adorable and have my bag packed and ready to go!! I'm looking for a good home please that is safe and with a garden to explore. I'm hoping to be rehomed along with my best friend Cougar." Click here to see a video of Hodge enjoying a good fuss link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPim-eT3euk

For more information about Hodge, please contact TAG pet rescue :
Call: 01843 822931
Email: tagpet@btinternet.com
Direct link to Hodge on the TAG website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/?p=8958
Website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tag-Pet-Rescue/204229969603292

9: At number 9 we have Dave at Tag pet rescue - Thanet.

Dave is sporting a lovely mini tash on the left, and a fuller tash on the right. This look is very trendy in Thanet rescue centres at the moment as a lot of cats seem to be sporting them :)
"Hello, my name is Dave. I am a handsome 2 year old black and white cat who came to TAG because my owner had a baby and decided they could not manage us both. Not sure why as I am adorable and all I want is to be fed and given love and strokes and I am more than happy. I would like a quiet safe home with a garden for me to explore where I can have an occasional snooze. I am not keen on other cats as I used to get bullied by other kitties. I am so gentle I didn’t stand up for myself and I am also scared of dogs. I have heard that some people don’t want black and white cats but surely a true animal lover will only look at a kittie’s character not just the colour of their fur. Please could you give me a good home forever this time?"

For more information about Dave, please contact TAG pet rescue :
Call: 01843 822931
Email: tagpet@btinternet.com
Direct link to Dave's page on the Tag website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/?p=7815
Website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tag-Pet-Rescue/204229969603292

8: At number 8 is Dizzie at Tag pet rescue - Thanet.

Dizzie is also sporting the half and half tash with a smaller tash on the left and fuller tash on the right.
"Hello, my name is Dizzie. I am a 4 year old black and white male cat. I was a little shy when I came to TAG as you can see from the photo of me peeking out of my bed. but now I do love a good stroke and I have really gained confidence now that the volunteers here keep fussing me. I came to TAG because my owners were moving and were not allowed to take cats with them so I would love a good forever home where I can be safe and have a little garden to explore.One look at my little face first thing in the morning and you are guaranteed a smile all day." :)

For more information about Dizzie, please contact TAG pet rescue :
Call: 01843 822931
Email: tagpet@btinternet.com
Direct link to Dizzie on the TAG website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/?p=7630
Website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tag-Pet-Rescue/204229969603292

7: Coming in at number 7 is Lacey from Rolvenden Cat Rescue in Cranbrooke - Kent

Proof that you don't need to be a tom cat to sport a moustache if you're a cat.
Age: 2 Years Gender: Female Breed: DSH
About:
"She is a somewhat timid girl due to a lack of handling but she is overcoming her fears. She was living rough outside as a homeless cat and was desperately trying to care for her kittens. When they came into our care, only two had survived wild predators. She is a healthy puss who loves other cats and who needs a quiet, indoor home so she can develop at her own pace.
If you feel that you are up to the extremely rewarding challenge of offering a home to a somewhat shy puss, please come along to meet her."

Contact details
Call : 07504 138398
E-mail : info@cats.rolvenden.org.uk
Link to Lacey on the website (she's at nearly the bottom of the page): http://www.cats.rolvenden.org.uk/adopt-a-cat/
Website : http://www.cats.rolvenden.org.uk

6: At number 6 we have Jock from Tag Pet Rescue - Thanet

The dark ginger/brown patches under his nose contrasting with the black freckles where his whiskars are give him a distinct moustache look. I did some research and it looks similar to a "Copstash Standard" don't you think?
"Hello my name is Jock and I am told I am a really handsome Tabby cat. The lady who took my photo said she thought I looked like a clouded leopard. Sounds very grand doesn’t it but basically I am a really loving affectionate little cat that would love a good home with someone who will give me lots of strokes, cuddles and let me cosy up on their lap in the warm."

For more information on Jock please contact Tag pet rescue :
Call: 01843 822931
Email: tagpet@btinternet.com
Direct link to Jock on the TAG website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/?p=9611
Website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tag-Pet-Rescue/204229969603292

5: Number 5 is Woodie from Thanet Cat Club.

Woodie is another entry for the girls and she has quite a dapper looking ginger moustache. "Woodie had a home for 12 yrs but her owner sadly died. She is such a friendly girl who would be great company for someone who could give her lots of fuss." For more information on Woodie please contact Thanet Cat Club :-
Contact Details
Call: 01843 579044 (at busy periods an answer machine will be in use - please leave a short message and phone number so they can ring you back).
Email: thanetcatclub@live.com
Direct link to Woodie on the TCC Catchat webpage: http://www.catchat.org/tcc/cgibin/prview.cgi?id=2013102104
Website: Thanet Cat Club use Cat Chat.org as their website so you can see all the cats that need rehoming here: http://www.catchat.org/tcc/cgibin/prtoc.cgi

4: Coming in at number 4 is the gorgeous Bertie at Tag Pet rescue - Thanet.

His sweet little white 'tash under a heart-shaped nose flecked with pink is enough to melt anyone's heart. He is at Tag Pet rescue with his sister Bella a beautiful tabby kitten, and they are both waiting for their forever homes.
"Hello we are Bella and Bertie kittens. We are brother and sister kittens aged about 8/9 weeks old (10 November 2013) We came to TAG when we were found in a shed after the owner had moved away. We are really lovely and affectionate kitties as you can see. TAG’s policy is not to rehome kittens to families with very young children. Please could you offer us a safe and good home with a garden to explore when we are older and ready to go out. We would love to be in the warm."

For more information about Bertie, please contact Tag Pet rescue:
Call: 01843 822931
Email: tagpet@btinternet.com
Direct link to Bertie on the Tag website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/?p=9686
Website: http://www.tagpetrescue.org.uk/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tag-Pet-Rescue/204229969603292

3: At number 3 we have Marley with RSPCA Canterbury & Dover

Marley is a lovely little girl with a very distinctive moustache. "This little face with her distinctive moustache is Marley. She has really come out of her shell and loves a fuss now although does love to hide in her igloo bed when she sleeps! Marley has had a condition that has been treated but has left her head at an angle, if you are interested in Marley we can tell you more about this."

For more information about Marley, please contact RSPCA Canterbury and Dover:
Based Haseden farm, Hersden, Canterbury.
Contact:
Call: 01227 71911
Facebook direct link to Marley: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=643230369062027&set=a.359545647430502.104848.251151908269877&type=3&theater
RSPCA Canterbury Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RSPCACanterburyandDover
Website: http://www.rspca-canterbury.org.uk/
E-mail: info@rspca-canterbury.org.uk

2: In second place we have Storm at S.E.A.R.S (South East animal Rescue Society)

Storm has a lovely beard and moustache combo which is why he came straight in at second place. He looks like a loveable old chappie. "Meet Storm estimated 6-8 years old (we think he's more 8 years) and he is a beautiful silver tabby.
Storm was surrendered to us by our vets after being dumped on a door step in a cardboard box when we had the big storm.
Despite all storm has been through he is a loving and very affectionate little boy looking for his perfect retirement home.
He is currently in foster with kids and a dog and doesn't seem phased by either and I wouldn't imagine him to be fussed by cats either as he is so laid back.
Storm is a very lovely older gentle man who is looking for his perfect forever home."

for more information about Storm, please contact S.E.A.R.S:
Phone : 07976631352 between 10-4 (They are unable to return phone calls so please try again if your call is not answered. They DO NOT accept telephone calls before 10:00am or after 5:00pm.
direct link to Storm on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=222517561255399&set=pb.111562892350867.-2207520000.1384713635.&type=3&theater
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/South-East-Animal-Rescue-Society/11156289235086
Website : http://www.sears-uk.org/
E-mail: southeastanimalrescuesociety@hotmail.com

1: And in first place we have the utterly handsome Rowley with Cats in Crisis - Thanet!!

Rowley is in first place because his moustache is the most distinct and symmetrical out of all the competition. That's the closest to a handle-bar moustache I've ever seen on a kitty. well done Rowley! Here's his story - "Hello I am Rowley. It has been a hard time for me of late. I was living on the streets for over a year being fed here and there by kind people. But for all that I am a loving cat. I also get on with other animals."

Rowley looks like a lovely friendly boy who's had a hard time so for more information please contact Cats in Crisis:
Telephone: 01843 299295 or 07796 633306 (Mary Knott).
Email: cic.thanet@gmail.com
Quick link to Rowley on the CIC facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=583214128418361&set=a.490434507696324.1073741829.121937937879318&type=3&theater
Facebook: www.facebook.com/catsincrisis.thanet
Website: http://catsincrisisthanet.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @cicthanet

I hope you agree that all of these cats are gorgeous and well done to Rowley for coming 1st! Now lets all find them the loving homes they deserve :)

Caz x

Why Adopt?

So why adopt instead of buying? It's easy to just go down to the pet shop or onto a website where you will find lots of pets for sale. You can pick a pet up with no questions asked, so why go through the whole process of adopting?

There are hundreds if not thousands of pets in rescue centres locally that have been abandoned and are waiting for someone to take them home. So whether you are looking for a puppy or kitten, or an older pet that is already fully grown, there will be plenty to choose from in rescue centres.

These pets have already been checked by a vet, so almost all health problems will already be known. When you buy from a seller on a selling site you have no guarantee what health the pet is in and I have been made aware of cases where people have bought a kitten that has died virtually overnight and the seller did not want to know or give them a refund! Rescue Centre pets will have been neutered, vaccinated etc and all of this is included in the adoption fee. If they haven't been because they are too young, this is reflected in the adoption price and there will be a contract to neuter your pet when it comes to the right age. In most cases where an older pet already has a medical condition such as the gorgeous Bonny who is up for adoption with Thanet Cat Club, because she has daily tablets for a thyroid condition, Thanet Cat Club will pay for the medication, they just want to find her a loving home! The picture below is Bonny and she is 9 years old and up for adoption with Thanet Cat club now!

If you adopt, all of the money you donate goes back into the fund so they can afford to rescue the next animal in need! It costs on average £150 on care for each cat (figure taken from the Cats Protection Website) and most rescue centre workers are volunteers and tend to subsidise some of the care from their own pockets if there aren't enough donations.

The rescue workers will also talk you through any care advice you need about the pet you are adopting, they will do a homecheck to make sure this is the right home for your pet and make sure you are aware how big the pet will grow if it is e.g. a puppy, and if it's a good match for your family set up. You won't get this when buying from a backyard breeder.

I personally have nothing against responsible breeders who clearly love and look after their pets and some breeds are getting rarer because they aren't "popular" at the moment so are under bred. But do you need to buy a Staffy from a breeder when the rescue centres are over-run with Staffy's at the moment? TAG Pet Rescue have 6 Staffy puppies coming in this week alone!! And why fill people's pockets with money because they have a poor old moggie who they breed from time and time again because they can sell the kittens for £80 each on a selling site. It's not a specific breed, the owners have just decided its easy money for them and sadly most of the kittens end up back in a rescue centre when the owners get bored of them :( Barney in the photo below, is a 10 month old Staffy who found himself in a dog pound. His 7 days were up but luckily someone from TAG saw him and rescued him straight away. He is now available for adoption :)

So hopefully I have given you some food for thought but the decision at the end of the day, is down to you. If you can't afford to adopt at the moment, why not hand a donation in to one of your local rescue centres or their shops? Each charity or rescue centre has their own website (which I have listed under the "useful contacts" tab you will see at the top of the page). Most will accept pet food donations in their shops, as well as clothes or other un-wanted items you don't want anymore for them to sell to raise money that way. Tag Pet rescue also have a food bin in Wilkinson's in Ramsgate that you can leave food or toys to feed or entertain the pets in their care :)

Why "Free to a good home" is never a good idea....

If you have ever looked for a pet on selling sites such as GumTree or in groups aimed at selling on Facebook or other social media, you will have come across this term before. Sure, it's quicker to rehome your pet if it's free because the buyer won't have any initial costs but have you thought about what type of people this could attract?

Most of the time you will come across a genuinely nice person who wants to rehome your pet out of the kindness of their own hearts but there are other more devious people out there you need to look out for :-

1) Dog Fighters.

Dog fighters are people who have dogs that they train to fight other dogs for money. They prey on sites that advertise pets free to a good home not only for their next fighting dog, but they even collect weaker dogs, cats/ kittens and other animals for their fighting dogs to train with and kill so they get the taste for killing things. I read an article a while back where a convicted dog fighter had admitted that even a small charge of say £25 would be enough to put him off because it cut into his profits if he could go somewhere else and get something for free. He would even get his girlfriend to dress up in a smart suit to collect the pet so she looked like a business professional and a trustworthy person,so people felt at ease giving their pets to her! I can't find the article to link you to at the moment but will update you if I find it.

2) Pet Peddlers

These are people who again get pets for free but then they sell them on for a profit so you could find your pet listed straight away on another selling site or worse, they could be sold to a pharmaceutical company for animal testing. They wait until they have a good stock of pets and drive them miles in poor conditions to these companies just because it's easy money for them.

A different type of pet peddler will always go for puppies or kittens and keep them for a year as a pet before they dump them on a rescue centre and then get another puppy or kitten. These are normally well know by the rescue centres but someone selling privately won't know about them.

3) Animal abusers

An example of this has been in the news recently called "The Craigslist Killer". This man was a serial dog killer who got puppies advertised as "Free to a good home" from Craigslist before he brutally mutilated and killed the puppy, racking up 29 kills before he was stopped. Here's a link to the full story if you want to read more http://our-compass.org/2012/04/11/free-to-a-good-home-craigslist-dog-killer-sentenced-in-west-virginia/.

What do I do to prevent this happening to my pets?

Homechecks! Every rescue centre will always do a homecheck before they let somebody adopt one of their animals. This is basically a visit to the persons home and seeing where the pet will be living. They will see if the living environment is suitable for the pet, and you get a better idea of what someone is like when you see how they live. They will also ask them a few questions so they get a picture of whether they know how to care for the pet and if they can financially afford it. If in doubt, go with your gut instinct! If you are unsure, you could ask one of your local rescue centres for advice.

There's no guarnatee and even after doing all these checks, something could still go wrong but you will be far safer knowing that if you have done all the right checks your pet is more likely to be going to it's forever loving home.

Whilst this blog is being set up ....

Whilst I am working on setting up this blog, please visit my facebook page for Pets that need rehoming in Thanet here:-

https://www.facebook.com/Petsthatneedrehominginthanet and give us a like. All pets needing homes will be listed on here.

There is also a facebook group you can join which is active and has content added daily here :-

https://www.facebook.com/groups/215163805315562/

I also allow private rehomes to advertise in the facebook groups but you must be willing to do a home-check to make sure your pet is going to a safe and loving home. Please send me a message if you are unsure what content you need to put in.

I have also created a page with all of the local and slightly further afield rescue and rehoming centres under "useful contacts" and put in links so you can easily contact them and find their website.

Hope this helps!

Caz x

Ventures into blogging

Hi Everyone! I'm Setting up this blog to help spread awareness about pets that need rehoming in Thanet and the surrounding areas. I originally set up a Facebook group called "Pets that need rehoming in Thanet" after seeing that there are a lot of pet selling pages online and in social media, but I wanted a group dedicated to all the pets looking for their forever homes who need adopting and a second chance at a better life. This group has been on Facebook since 27th August 2013 and even in 2 months has been really successful in finding homes for pets that are waiting to be adopted in rescue centres. Facebook however, is limiting in the way that I can't get as much information as I would like on the page, ready and easy for people to access. This is why I looked in to having a website, but I'm not particularly good at web design so I have opted for a blog for the time being :) Please remember that I am doing this entirely voluntarily with the full permission of all the rescue centres to help promote pets that need to find homes, and I will always link and let you know who to contact directly if you are interested in rehoming a pet :) Love, Caz