Rescue Animal 2011

We would like to thank everyone that voted - all the animals we take in are winners to us and each just as special as the other. We just hope the awards highlight the work we do and the special animals we encounter.

 

WINNER

45% of the votes

Ben

Ben

Ben the cat was one of longest stay cats this year, waiting 6 months to find his forever home. He originally came into our care as an injured stray and the reason he stayed so long? Because he is black and very playful! Here’s what his nominees said about him:

“Ben should make the list as he is super dooper. He was a fun, playful, gorgeous boy with plenty of attitude but for some reason these were not the criteria adopters were looking for in a cat. So, he waited patiently for months for someone to see how great he was. Yes, he scratched the majority of the staff at the cattery and he may have destroyed all the best toys, but we all still loved him and knew that really he just wanted a bit of exercise and a play mate. Finally some lucky person saw the brilliance of Ben and adopted him. Health checking the cats just isn’t the same since he left the cattery.” Debs Beats

“I would like to nominate Ben for being a plucky black cat and not losing heart while waiting ages for his new home.” Lucy Palmer

“Ben, for spending a long time in our care and being a good natured little boy.” Martha Byrne

“Ben the black feisty cat. I am nominating him because he had to wait so long for his home and black cats rule!” Jemma Redhead

Ben was rehomed in South Manchester to very loving and tolerant ‘parents’ who put up with his overly playful antics and clearly love him to pieces.

 

3rd PLACE

9% of the votes

Ken

Ken

Ken. To this day the name ‘Ken’ elicits a strong emotion in us all as we recollect the journey we have taken with this plucky lad. When he arrived in September 2010 he was simply a breathing skeleton. He weighed less than half his body weight and we held out little hope for survival but because he was a ‘case animal’ we had no choice but to keep him going; and we are so glad that we did.

He was only a baby, but his development had been significantly hampered by his neglect, he grew into quite a misshapen looking lad and took months to develop his bone strength. In total it took 11 months for the case of neglect against his owner to be successfully concluded in court, which meant that we got the chance to spend all the time in company of a hero. His carer Sue Walker explains what he means to her:

“I nominate Ken (ma main man). When he arrived we didn’t think he would survive. He was so thin and weak and smelt my car out on the way to the vets; it was like nothing I had experienced before. But, he did survive and became the most adorable, odd looking little boy I’ve ever met. He had weak nails, so when he dug anywhere he would break a nail (to the core), but he eventually grew out of it and into a healthy and vital bunny boy. I miss him terribly and can still picture him sat waiting for his brekky and snuggling up in his litter tray with my little dog Basil (who I think he thought was his bro).



 

 

 


2nd PLACE

42% of the votes

Benny

Benny

Benny’s owners are currently under prosecution so we do not wish to jeopardise this. What we can tell you is that when he came into our care he weight just 9kgs and the female inspector that rescued him could lift him with one arm. Within a matter of weeks he gained weight and when he was adopted he was nearly 17kgs in weight. Our Animal Welfare staff member explains why Benny was so special:

“Benny deserves to be in the running because of the transformation he went through. He came to us looking like a bag of bones and potential hip related problems due to the weight loss he had suffered. He wouldn’t stop circling you in the paddock and couldn’t be trusted on walks with other dogs because of his unpredictable and erratic behaviour. After a few shorts weeks in our care he was a totally different dog, he began to focus on us and learn the basic commands, rather than trying to hear us in the field when he played fetch. He started to react less to other dogs and with a few extra meals and weekly hydrotherapy his hip issues went away. The fact that he went on to be rehomed successfully with another dog goes to show how quickly a ‘problematic’ dog can become a sweet, well behaved family pet with the right care and attention. Benny is a perfect example of what we do and why it is so worthwhile rehabilitating dogs and giving them a second chance.” Debs Beats

Benny has been rehomed in Cheshire and accompanies his ‘mum’ during on endurance runs, such is his recovery now!