The RSCPA has recognised Hackney Council’s work rescuing and re-homing stray cats with a prestigious award.
The council was one of the four local authorities across the UK who were awarded Innovator prizes by the charity for their pioneering animal welfare, alongside Wakefield, Hartlepool Borough, and Basingstoke and Deane Borough councils.
“The awards are prestigious and the four RSPCA Innovator Award winners from across the country should be congratulated for demonstrating their pioneering practices in animal welfare,” said Lenny Rolles, the RSPCA’s senior parliamentary adviser for local government.
Some 40 cats have been rescued and given a new home by the Hackney Council in the past year in partnership with animal charities.
Barbara Reid, the co-ordinator and welfare officer of Cats Protection’s central London branch, who works closely with the council said, “It’s great honour, as it’s the RSPCA’s most prestigious award. I hope it will make Hackney a model of animal welfare.
“Hopefully also it will make people much more aware of the needs of cats.”
Hackney Council has taken the opportunity to remind cat owners to make sure that their cats are neutered and health-checked every year by a vet.
“My message to anyone thinking of getting a cat, or buying one as a present, is to make sure they can look after it properly,” said councillor Feryal Demirci, cabinet member for neighbourhoods. “It’s important that they are microchipped so that if any cats do end up in our hands they can be quickly reunited with their owners.”
Image: Nicolas Suzor, Flickr. Some rights reserved.
