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PAWS for

THOUGHT

Newsletter

Of

The Cat & Rabbit

Rescue Centre Sidlesham.

(Registered Charity Number 1010000)

President – SUSAN JAMESON.

Chief Veterinary Officer – MARK ELLIOTT. (BVSc,

Vet MFHom, MRCVS, PCH, RSHom.)

October 2015.

Holborow Lodge, Chalder Lane, Sidlesham, Chichester,

West Sussex, PO20 7RJ. Tel :- 01243-641409

e-mail :- info@crrc.co.uk Web Site :- www.crrc.co.uk

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Firstly I would like to thank you for supporting the Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre, and I hope you enjoy the PFT for Autumn. The Newsletter is produced 3 times a year, mainly from stories people have sent me (do prefer them on email if possible). I also get some great newscuttings from John Dyer, a longtime supporter of CRRC. The challenge now is how do we get CRRC to be a household name, so that this Charity can go up another level, not only in its fund raising, but also in the number of animals and people it helps. I need your help on this, lets ‘have breeders of pets, a thing of the past, and every

pet has a home’. Any ideas you have, like new places to advertize, constructive criticism of CRRC (i.e. moans only with practical solutions please). The Open Day & Summer Fayre on 9th August was our best ever with £13,240 being raised, after expenses. £5,000 will go towards our improved rabbit accommodation and £2,000 towards some better guinea pig accommodation. A breakdown shown later in the PFT

This is 3 year old Cassie Whittick, win-ner of £300 first prize, she paid for her own raffle ticket (what a cutie pic). List of the other lucky winners Landridge (01634) Hasley(01602) Joyce C (08998) Hoe(01749) M Daly (09870) Harper(05720) Lesley(09655) Tracy (02192)

Sean(00046) Wilson(03107) Tricia(09904) Josh(02213) Nichol(00197) R White(08547) Handsford(00289) Brown(06680)

Wheeler(09876) Mowatt(07107) Becky(00471)

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Dear Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre, Did you know that we got 4 ginger kittens, last year from you. We named them Rascal my Daddy’s cat, Jun-ior my brother Reuben’s cat, Yoshi my sister Poppy’s cat, and little Merlin my cat. Me and my friend Talia made a

raffle then my friend went home. After that I took it to

my auntie’s house for BBQ, and I sold the tickets and raised £20 for all your animals. Our cats have grown up now and are adventurous, fun and love cuddles. They sleep on our beds and Merlin likes to go hunting! Lots of muddy paws, Darcey (age 7)

Christopher Timothy, Vanessa Duke (winner of the special person award) and our President Susan Jameson

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Sharon’s Garden is well under way - build cost £25,000 This is the name of the new rabbit area (named after a beautiful goat, we used to have), after numerous changes, visiting of other places, the design for the rabbit area has finally been decided and with Open Day funds of £5,000 allocated, the builder started. Also £2,000 from Michael and Shirley Hunt Trust and £15,000 from Support Adoption for Pets are promised as well. We are still £3,000 short of the total so if anyone would like to send in a donation for this project please mark it Sharon's Garden Project. Thank you.

Think they found a happy home. Darryl and Michele

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Long haired cats I received a newspaper cutting about a disgruntled owner about the visit to the vet to have her very matted cat groomed out, and she was distraught when the cat came back practi-cally bald! The vet apologized as they should have made it clear to the owner what they would need to do. Cats skin is very delicate, and often this is the only thing to do. I think she has a cheek to complain, she should ask herself why she al-lowed her cat to get like this in the first place? That cat will be so much more comfortable now, it might look a bit odd, (and

perhaps a bit chilly), let’s hope the ‘moaning’ owner keeps up the grooming while the fur grows. Mike Jones The sun shone on our Open Day this year and as ever Mike and Penny Jones ran their electric game stall, we knew Mike was not well, and sadly his wife Penny let us know he had passed away, just a few weeks later. They had been ardent supporters of CRRC for many years, and there are many happy memories, including the next story Mike emailed just after the Open Day.

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Emma and Monique Just a note to thank you for getting us set up. I always worry that we won’t get “our” spot, and it’s the best spot because everyone comes past us going in and out. I’m now into a wheeled trolley to get around so things are getting worse. It was a super day with the same DJ from the Hospital Radio as before, it really makes the day with his “oldies” music and his patter. We didn’t make very much money, we never do, but we now get regulars who say they want to try again after last year. Our

first man is a Surgeon and he always gets it right, we would hope so... The bonus was those girls dancing to the music, they were fabulous and I was reminded of Pan’s People, if you can re-member them. I went and asked one of the fathers if they had Dancing Training and he said they went to Dancing Classes. We thought they were incredible, completely sponta-neous. One of them was off in her own world dancing away, completely oblivious to the audience. A really good day and I hope you now have a rest after today. Mike and Penny No more Charity Flowers Thank you to everyone who has used this service and provided CRRC with some funds, sadly we received a letter from Age Concern (who own Charity Flowers) stating they are no longer offering charities this fundraising tool, but never mind.

From Cruelty Free International Nestle, Danone and Yakult are still using animals to test food, if you are interested in more information please contact Cruelty Free International. Monique.

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Open Day & Summer Fayre 2015 at CRRC Sam Simon Just thought I would include a little bit about a person you probably have never heard of! Sam Simon was involved in cre-ating the cartoon ‘The Simpsons’, and other American TV pro-grammes and was definitely an ‘animal’ person, he set up a dog rescue, provided money for vessels to prevent the disgust-ing whaling ships, he set up the ‘Sam Simon Foundation’ that helped strays, and to train them to help disabled people and war veterans. He was involved with PETA, he also provided free vegan meals to families in need. Sadly he died in March 2015 and bequeathed his $1000m fortune to the various good causes he was involved in. So please think of CRRC in your will, as this makes such a dif-ference to our work, it can be a little or a lot, but as a well known supermarket says ‘Every little helps’ (of course if you have $1000m, that would be gratefully received!!)

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Microchipping I know we are not a dog rescue, but I know a lot of our read-ers have dogs, so thought I would just remind you that from 6th April 2016 it is compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped. Lots of other animals can be microchipped, so contact your vet. Bad Press for Charities There has been a lot of bad press this year about various charities, badgering people for money, not using the money for

their cause, this is something that is very important to CRRC that everyone who donates to us, gives it willingly and this money is used sensibly for the work of CRRC. Poem from Mrs Sheath Ode to Bertie, Sooty & Pickle June 2010 ‘Twas out feeding birds one day, when a tabby came to me My garden was his drop-in-centre, for meals considered free. So when my old cats went to that Pussy-Heaven-in-the-sky, Bertie, as I called him, moved in and this was why, I acquired one stray cat, a runaway for sure, And he’s unpack his suitcase, and made a stake for more Than meals and bird-feeder watching, which became his wild-life prog After three and one half years, he’s decidedly my mog!!! The problems that I had with him, anytime of night or day,

Was demand of meals, when hungry, or bring live mice indoors for play July 2014 And now that Bertie has himself gone to that Pussy-Heaven-in-the sky, It broke my heart in two, to have to ‘Goodbye’

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Cancer claimed its victim, but before you went You brought home two more cats, and by TRAUMA one was sent! He’d lost his home, and no-one knew from whence he hailed As outside our home he sat and wailed “We’re full with kittens” all the rescue centres say, So now Sooty with me has come to stay………….. He has enormous health problem, and is really very dotty, Not knowing what he will do next, it’s driving me quite potty! Still…he has certain charm, thinks he’s a cat Ferrari

Nought to sixty is his best and woe betide unwary Legs of any age, as he does scalextrix run Dicky heart or not, he’s catching up on fun. What is it with me and these cats? Every evening at seven or eight Pickle pokes his nose into the cat flap, “hope supper isn’t late!” But woe betide if he meets Sooty then claws are drawn at dawn “Bertie was my friend!” says Pickle, “I’d call and we’d go off to play. Then you stuck your big whiskers in, and then I had no say!” “Always washing him, especially well behind his ears, Sucking up ‘cos you were often in so many tears!” I’d like to come here to stay, but we don’t get on I have another home I know so by every dawn I’m gone!” And then came December and after fights thrice more, Not with Sooty but other cats, he now has wounds galore.

It's here that he sought sanctuary, so was he living rough? The questions come so thick and fast, ‘cos this cat’s life’s been tough! He’s such a little sweetie, but a home elsewhere he needs. Where he along can reign supreme and get all the love – agreed?

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But after staying with me and messing me about He ups and goes off full-o-beans out and round about!!! 2015 So January cometh, when fate takes a helping hand, A phone call re another matter, may his life expand Into that home of dreams every cat deserves Thank you Cat & Rabbit Rescuers, though parting from him hurts! Mrs Sheath was very grateful for the help we gave her, but we can’t do it without help from you.

Still more knitters needed Yes our cat nip mice are selling very well and the amazing Mrs Tibbles has knitted over 6,050 and still going, thank you so much. We have a few more people on board, but still they keep selling out, so if you are a knitter or know someone who is, please get them have a copy of our pattern, which I have included. If you need wool, just let us know.

When complete, please send (along with your contact details) to:

The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre, Holborow Lodge, Chalder Lane, Sidlesham, Chichester. PO20 7RJ Tel: 01243 641409

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CATNIP MOUSE KNITTING PATTERN

MATERIALS: Use double knit or similar yarn, anything thinner will be torn apart too easily, much thicker will be too stiff. Two different colours, one for main body and contrast for nose. Nice bright colours, please – the cats don’t care, but the customers do! Size 2.75mm/10 needles (use 3mm/11 needles if end result

is too small). Standard abbreviations used.

TENSION: Ideal length approx. 5”/12.5cm, width approx. 5”/12.5cm at widest point. Stitches should be fairly tightly

worked. Work in stocking stitch throughout.

BODY: Cast on 9 sts. for tail end of body. Row 1: Increase in every stitch knitwise. (18) Row 2: Purl. Row 3: (k1, incr. in next stitch) to end. (27) Work 3 rows. Row 7: (k2, incr. in next stitch) to end. (36) Work 11 rows. Row 19: (k2, k2tog.) to end. (27) Work 9 rows. Row 29: (k1, k2tog.) to end. (18) Work 7 rows. Row 37: (k2tog.) to end. (9) Work 3 rows, leave approximately 12” of main colour for sewing Last row – using contrast colour for nose – knit. Draw yarn through loosely, leaving approximately 12-15 inches for eye embroidery. EARS: (make 2 in either main or contrast colour) Cast on 18 stitches, work 2 rows. Last row: (k2tog.) to end (9). Draw yarn through loosely, leaving approx. 12-15 inches for sewing.

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The Christmas Fayres are a’coming In the last PFT, I said about pulling down the Greenhouse and being replaced by a more suitable new building called the An-

nexe, but sadly we have had huge problems trying to get a firm to do the building regs and structural survey, so conse-quently, no Annexe and no greenhouse, and that means no Christmas Fayre, here at The Centre. But not to be deterred, we have organized 4, yes 4 Christmas Fayres so make sure you come along to at least one of them! 1. Saturday 7th November 10-12 at

Selsey Centre (Manor Rd, PO20 0SE)

2. Saturday 14th November 10.30-2pm at Drayton, Portsmouth (2 Station Rd, PO6 1PH)

3. Sunday 22nd November 10 – 12 at Donnington Parish Hall (Stockbridge Rd, Chichester PO19 8QT)

4. Sunday 6th December 10-12 at Pagham Village Hall (Pagham Rd, Bognor Regis PO21 4NJ)

Help is needed so if you are free please contact Emma at admin@crrc.co.uk.

Urgent Christmas hampers items needed, any donations grate-fully received.

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Raffle Tickets for Sale We have purchased ‘proper’ raffle tickets for our Christmas Fayres, so if you would like to buy or sell some, just give us a ring or purchase online via our website www.crrc.co.uk and click on the 'make a donation' button which will take you through to a secure site, adding a comment 'raffle tickets'.

Mark Elliott and Associates Veterinary Surgeons providing a new vision of Animal Care

Madam Green Business Centre, Oving, Chichester, W. Sussex. For more information, visit www.markelliott.co.uk

or call 01243 779111

Every Little Helps or in this case a lot from Tesco!

Tesco in Havant very kindly donated 69kg of tinned tuna and other fish, this is ideal for our fete sandwiches, but also ideal for use when worming the cats (and they think it is a good idea as

well!) News from the Jewellery Stall 2015 Once again a massive thank you to all who donate jewellery to our shops and the Centre, and who purchase from the stall

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and the Bognor shop throughout the year. You have made it a record year for raising money for the animals with the jewel-lery. This year started with two new, smaller events at Midhurst and the Bognor Regis Carnival at West Field. Together they brought in £305. Then in mid-July we started our big events. We were invited by Worthing Lions to have an extra Sunday Charity Market stall, the week before the main Charity Stalls event. We took up the offer and had Connie with us again this

year to help. The weather was fantastic and despite many people telling us they had no idea the Charity Market was on, we raised £388. Connie generously rounded this up to £400. The following Sunday’s event was again courtesy of Worthing Lions. Despite the terrible weather forecast and early morning drizzle we set off for Worthing seafront. We set up just one gazebo and less tables but the drizzle became torrential rain and by 9.15 we had no option but to pack away. The table-cloths were soaked, the small jewellery boxes were soaked, we were soaked. Again we had Connie with us but our other champion helper Miranda was on her way from Saltdean via two bus journeys. Unfortunately I was unable to stop her com-pleting the journey but she soon realised what had happened. The one piece of good news from this abandoned event was that CRRC won £100 in the Lions’ raffle.

The following week we were at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis. Brilliant weather, two gazebos, lots of space around us and lots of customers. We had Connie to help and we raised £548 and once again Connie generously rounded up the amount, this time to £600, in memory of Thomas, a rabbit she lost to a fox.

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In between events I had also sold £100 worth of scrap gold and silver.

Then, on 9 August we had the Centre’s Summer Fayre. Another brilliant Summer’s day and we had our two ga-zebos plus some extra space at the

side - our biggest layout ever. Connie roped in boyfriend Alex to help and we

also had Hazel who helped with raffle ticket sales at the Bognor Carnival. We certainly needed five of us on the stall. The customers were three deep much of the time and the money was just pouring in. We raised a magnificent £870. Our usual target of £1,000 for the Summer events was well exceeded. To raise £2,375 this year was unbelievable – and it is down to our supporters so generously donating jewellery and those who buy from the stall. I was very touched by the donations brought to us at each event, which supporters had especially wanted to hand over in person and the kind words of encouragement for the stall.

Please keep the donations of jewellery coming in. Nothing is wasted - if we cannot sell something we have a recycling scheme which pays for the scrap costume and fashion jewel-lery. Keep the little gift boxes and pouches coming in too and any display type items are always welcome. We made great use of a square opticians spectacle display tower with pairs of

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‘arms’ – ideal for the bead bracelets. Ferrero Rocher clear plastic boxes are always welcome (full or empty!). Please leave the moulded plastic trays in too. We would also like to thank Brooklands Glass at Lancing for donating a piece of clear acrylic sheet for the new gold/silver display case which (my) Alex is making for the stall – we are most grateful as it is expensive to purchase. Finally, big thank you to our helpers Connie and Alex, Hazel

and to my Alex for his patience in living with a mountain of jewellery around the house - and of course to all of our sup-porters. We cannot do it without you, the stall is 100% profit for the Centre.

Valerie and Alex, The CRRC Jewellery Stall PS: Quick update since I wrote this, we did Southdowns Folk Festival weekend at Hotham Park at the end of September and added another £300 to the coffers.

Pets at Home donation This shows Roo, as we called him, he had terrible flu, and this left him with runny eyes which have to be cleaned daily, but he has so much energy, you would never know there was

anything wrong with him. This shows him playing with some of the toys kindly donated by Pets at Home. (Roo has now found a lovely home, great news)

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01243 778109

A Big Thank You

In November 1996, we adopted one of your rescue kittens called Cracker. She was a little black

and white kitten and as soon as we walked into her play pen and she ran straight up my dad’s back and sat on his shoulder, I knew that she was the one.

After a couple of years of having her she was hit by a car but made a full recovery…well apart from her tail that remained in a permanent question mark shape!

I wanted to say a big thank you for rescuing her all those years ago and giving me the 19 years I had with her. Sadly old age got the better of her and we had to have her put to sleep in July. She was like having another human in the house and really was the most exceptional, loving cat. I was only 10 when

we got her and she went through so much with me and meant more to me than I could ever describe. I am absolutely devas-tated but it makes me feel better knowing that there are peo-ple out there like you rescuing these cats in the first place. Please keep up the good work! Alexandra Gibb-Gray

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It was lovely to hear from someone whose family adopted from CRRC and now all grown up, has adopted from us again.

The

Life Story Of Sammy Smith

Hi my name is/was Sammy. I’ve now passed away on the 26th July 2015, but this is a story of

my life. I was born with no eyeballs only the sockets

which had to be stitched up to stop infection, this was a result of my mum having cat flu whilst she was pregnant. But I didn’t let that hold me back. I did all the normal things a sighted cat could do, there were so many things I could tell you what I could do but here are just a few things. I used to climb trees, catch things especially slow worms. I liked nothing more than climbing on our shed roof and sunbathe or even climb on to our hedge and sunbathe. I used to help my owner do the gar-dening by biting and pulling at the dead plants. I loved playing with our other cat Brandy who passed away and then we got Casper who I was very close too. I also used to love sitting on the arm of the armchairs alongside my owners whilst they were eating their meals and wait for them to give me some meat. When I was a tiny kitten my owner Marissa used to love putting me in her pushchair and treat

me like a baby and I use to allow her to do it because I loved her. I used to love sitting on the roof of people’s cars as well even though it annoyed them. I loved jumping into the boot of the car whilst my owner was unloading the shopping bags; I

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used to love to see what she brought. Another thing I loved was to get into the bathroom sink and drink from the tap. I really was no different to any other cat and I lived a happy and normal life for 16 years thanks to the love and care of my fam-ily who had patience and time for my disability which I was grateful for.

Sammy Smith

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SUMMER FAYRE GRAND TOTAL = £13,240.62

Buckets & chutes 66.30

Mike Jones 31.05

Donations 590.00

pre sold raffle tickets 1402.00

auction 635.00

books 584.40

bottle stall 1014.50

café 1599.00

chips 606.10

clothes 1701.60

darts game 70.05

face painting 47.50

gate(back) 918.68

gate(front) 464.08

toys 354.65

info table & rabbit educ 140.41

jewellery 870.68

new goods 532.85

pet products 261.00

gifts 274.90

plants 494.88

rabbit dice 163.80

raffle 1050.00

silver mine 288.10

tombola 125.50

expenses

1st prize -300.00

food & ice cream -348.13

hospital radio -200.00

raffle tickets -93.00

advertising -105.28

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Our Darling Molly Many of you who have visited The Centre will have met the lovely brindle torty who flopped about ready for someone to

give her a cuddle, sadly she has passed away, we found her curled up on one of the flower beds. Molly was a sponsor cat and her position has been taken up by Hulk, a three legged

tabby cat.

KEYDELL NURSERIES, HAVANT ROAD,

HORNDEAN, WATERLOOVILLE, HANTS PO8 0UU

Tel: 023 9259 3839 • Fax: 023 9259 9149 Email: info@keydellnurseries.co.uk

MUCH MORE THAN A NURSERY - WELL WORTH A VISIT!

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Reaction to article in previous PFT It is always nice to receive some comments about an article we have published in PFT, and I received this one about ‘petting zoos’. It is an article in the IFAW (International Fund for Ani-mal Welfare) magazine. In a nutshell it is saying about petting zoos and roadside attractions in United States, where baby lion cubs are taken from their mothers, given milk formula, so di-luted they are too weak to protest at these people petting them, and what happens when they are too big to handle? Ac-cording to IFAW about 10,000 tigers, lions and other big cats

are in private hands (10,000 too many in my opinion), and IFAW are getting lots of calls about these poor creatures living in terrible conditions, well under weight, and sometimes have had their claws extracted. If you interested in helping IFAW with their campaign to try to help these poor animals, check out their website www.ifaw.org NEVER EVER VISIT THESE PLACES, YOU ARE ENCOURAGING THIS DISGUSTING PRACTISE.

Previous Events in 2015 Tangmere Village Fete – raised £100.20 Tesco Store Collection – Bognor raised £139.60 Worthing Lions Festival – raised £100 Tesco Store Collection – Petersfield – raised £194.34 Hotham Park – raised £548.50 Tesco Store Collection – Chichester – raised £269.50 CRRC Summer Fayre & Open Day raised £13240.62 Pagham on Parade – raised £142.86 Emsworth Show – raised £191.05 The Southdowns Folk Festival – raised £300

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Some of our lovely Facebook friends who have adopted from CRRC during 2015, showing them in their forever homes -

thank you everyone, makes us so happy too!

And finally our gorgeous Billie-Bow

who was found on death's door

dumped in a bin. Here she is loving

how her life turned out in her new

home - such a special girl who

fought to live against all odds xxxx

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CATS and RABBIT ENCLOSURE FOR SPONSORSHIP

Bonny-Boots BLACK FEMALE WHO PREVIOUSLY SHARED A HOME WIH 90 CATS. Buzz A REAL CUTE TABBY & WHITE LAD. Calista BRIGHTLY COLOURED TORTY AND WHITE FEMALE. Carlos MAGNIFICENT BLACK CAT WHO LOVES BEING ON HIS OWN. Francesca MAINLY BLACK WHO LOVES HER LIFE IN THE BARN. Giggles PRETTY TABBY & WHITE FEMALE WITH A NOT-SO-PRETTY TEMPER. Honey Bee A PRETTY LITTLE GIRL WITH A HALF GINGER FACE. Mabel A BEAUTIFUL BLACK & WHITE FERAL WHO WILL TOLERATE A STROKE. Hulk GORGEOUS 3 LEGGED TABBY WHO LOVES A CUDDLE. Pebbles PARTIALLY SIGHTED SLEEK BLACK FEMALE WITH WOBBLY BITS.

Also THE RABBIT ENCLOSURE – a 2,500 square feet area with 30 hutches & runs which are moved daily onto fresh grass.

The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre Sponsorship Scheme

I would like to sponsor …………………...............…………….(name of Cat/Rabbit Enclosure) I enclose:- First Year’s Sponsorship Fee:- ………… £ 15-00 Donation:- ……………………………… £

Total:- ………………………….. £ Name :- …………………………............……………. Telephone No. …….....…………............ Address :- ……………………………………………………………….............……………...…. ……………………………………………………………...................……………………………... ……………..…………………………................…Post Code …………………………………... Signed :- …………………………...........…… Date :- ……………...........………………. Email:............................................................................................................................

If you would like The CRRC to make more of your sponsorship and you are a tax payer, please request and sign our separate Gift Aid declaration form and return it with this form. Please send the completed form(s) to CRRC, Holborow Lodge, Chalder Lane, Sidlesham, West Sussex, PO20 7RJ.