How We Started

Purring would seem to be, in her case, an automatic safety valve device for dealing with happiness overflow. ~Monica Edwards

Hi! I'm Muriel and I've been fostering cats and kittens since May 2003, initially for the Animal Care Society and more recently with RAWR. I'm based in Bantry, West Cork, Ireland.

I lived in a terraced house in Bantry town with three resident cats (all rescued) and varying numbers of foster cats and kittens. Early in 2007 Jennifer Carroll, the veterinary assistant for our local vet, Fachtna Collins, joined me in my fostering endeavours, helping with medication and kitten management generally.

Mid 2007, Jenni & I started a Trap Neuter Return (TNR) program in West Cork. This involves moving into feral and semi-feral cat populations, trapping the adults, neutering them and releasing them back into their population once they've recovered from the operation. Often it involves neutering colonies that have developed because private individuals haven't neutered their domestic cat.

Until we started TNR I'd just fostered 2 to 4 kittens or one family at a time. When we started TNR we came across kittens in every cat population that we couldn't simply just leave - apart from anything else they would grow up and continue producing kittens, which would pretty much defeat the purpose. If that wasn't a good enough reason the state of some of the kittens we found was appalling - see Goliath's pic on the right.

So, in 2007, I ended up with 25 cats and kittens at one point. And I had to reorganise a bit. I used one room to keep ill or new kittens separate and the bathroom could also take a couple of kittens that need isolated from the rest. Apart from that they all ran round loose in the house and, once they figured out the cat flap, the garden too. It wasn't ideal but there was nowhere else for them to go!

Towards the end of 2007, Filament brought Feline Leukemia (FeLV) into the house and Shapoloh, a permanent resident, contracted it. We couldn't carry on introducing kittens without an isolation period and we renovated three bedrooms into kitten sanctuaries, sectioned off from the rest of the house. At the same time Jenni was able to house outdoor rescue cats and kittens in sheds designed for that purpose in her back garden.

The autumn of 2008 cursed us with Feline Infectious Enteritis (FIE) and we'll have to fumigate and review our working (voluntary?) practice before we can take any more kittens into my place.

More Background

Cats and kittens arrive here by a variety of means; many are dumped - at the side of busy roads, in car parks, in the middle of nowhere, in the Tourist Office(!); some are reported by concerned neighbours; many are passed to RAWR by owners who promise to get their cats neutered - and then return with the next litter, and the next, and the next ...; etc. Others arrive direct to my doorstep because word has got out - one starving 5 week old kitten, Mr Chumbley Warner, was dumped on the barren patch across the road from my old house and would have died there if a workman hadn't heard him crying for his mum & told me.

Prime examples are, (see picture, from left to right): Duchess, at about 6 months of age, wandered into a house up the road from me and tried to take up residence - the householder knew I'd taken in cats in the past and appeared on my doorstep with her. I rescued Crusty from a house I used to visit regularly - of 3 adult cats and 4 litters of kittens he is the only known survivor. Shapoloh was dumped outside my old house at 5 weeks old. Right on a busy main road. They're all lucky to be alive. For one reason or another they all ended up taking up permanent residence here.

Nearly every kitten & cat that has arrived at my house has a belly fat with worms (in contrast with their undernourished, skeletal body), is riddled with fleas and ear mites and, more often than not, can barely see for some kind of eye infection or other. Adult males are also usually raggedy with torn ears, patches of fur missing and/or numerous scratches from fighting. What breaks my heart is it only takes a few days to see an improvement and often the animal appears completely healthy and cared for after just a few weeks. Kittens we think are only 5 weeks old when they arrive blossom and have growth spurts which leave me wondering if they're actually several weeks older. Males we neuter are much less aggressive and will live longer as a result. Neutered females also live longer - and won't have to cope with scavenging for food for litter after litter that, despite their efforts, end up dying before maturity.

Food and care make such a difference; early treatment, before these problems get out of control needn't be expensive and certainly isn't time consuming - if caught at onset eye infections can be often be cleared up simply by regular bathing in water. But for some reason negligence seems to be the rule rather than the exception in this area.

Where We Are Today

In 2008/09, with the house free of kittens for a while, I had time to think. We'd done a great job in difficult circumstances with the fostering, but we hadn't made any long term difference for the animals in West Cork. We'd made a huge difference for the animals we'd rescued, but the numbers needing rescuing weren't changing and animal welfare was no further forward.

But our TNR work, carried out mostly by Jenni by this point, did make a difference. A big difference.

I sat down and read all the books I should have read before I started in 2003 (see our Recommended Reading for titles). Jenni joined me in my research. And we realised that TNR was the way forward. We simply don't have and can't get enough money to rescue every animal in West Cork that needs our help. But we can humanely reduce the numbers of animals that will need our help in years to come ... through TNR, neutering of companion animals, increasing human responsibility and legislative change.

And so the idea for RAWR was born.

And here we are!!

RAWR's Stall on Bantry Market

Come and see us in person! Our stall is on Bantry Market every Friday at the top of the square.

As well as good quality bric-a-brac, we’re selling a range of treats and toys for cats and dogs. All our treats are made using natural products. The funds we raise are being used to further our work - at the top of our wish list is a Veterinary Examination Cage.

Meet Our New Sec-kat-tery!

Hey folks, things have been a bit hectic over the last few weeks so sorry for the lack of updates. One of the bites of news we have for you is the appointment of our new sec-kat-tery: Mr Hades! Mr Hades has been one of the permanent residence at mine for almost a year now and is a gentle giant. As you can see from his photo, he is a stunning, jet black boy who has only one 'fault'. Hades is FIV+. This virus is similar to the human version but is infectious to only cats and NOT people. These cats are often overlooked as potential housecats because of this virus. Hades is one of these cats, he is the most affectionate and adoring cat I have ever known and it is a delight to arrive home to him everyday. As well as being the newly appointed press officer, Hades hopes to become a spokescat for FIV cats everywhere and an advocate for them. He tells me that he hopes to educate the public and show them that the stigma is completely undeserved.

PAW Is Evolving

Hello folks! Puurrrrr. Just a quick note to let you know, PAW is changing. A very reliable source in the PAW office told me, (well I was actually hiding under the desk, eavesdropping). Keep checking the website for updates!

Don't Be Confuzzled!

PAW is in the process of changing to RAWR! - Rural Animal Welfare Resources. We're the same group, just changing to a name that better explains what we aim for. It's going to take a little time to get everything sorted, but you can already bookmark www.RAWR.ie to stay up to date!

Don't let there be any confuzzlement with another animal welfare organisation called PAWS (People's Animal Welfare Society). We are PAW - Promoting Animal Welfare - a small grassroots organisation promoting TNR, neutering and animal welfare in West Cork. PAWS is an international - primarily dog rescue - organisation in Co Tipperary. Find them on the web at www.PAWS.ie.

PAWS (Tipperary) has recently been carrying out an extensive fund raising campaign throughout Ireland. They also collected in Bantry, and some of our supporters told us they mistakenly donated to PAWS thinking they were us. Unfortunately donations that could have been spent on local animal welfare have gone 'out of town'. PAWS will put it to good use, of that we are confident. But ... PAW/RAWR needs your finanical support as much to carry on with vitally needed animal welfare work in West Cork. Do not hesitate when you're donating money in the street to make sure your money goes to the cause you want to support.

Another issue is rising with street collections increasingly being perceived as 'business'. Some organisations use paid collectors who keep a percentage of the donations received! Do be aware this is going on, and consider donating to your charity of choice online, to a known representative in your area or using the local collections boxes. Also be aware of 'fake' fundraisers - legitimate street collectors will always have IDs - ask, before you give!

Fundraising

We are fundraising in the following ways:-

• Regular Stall at Bantry Market on Fridays
• Donation Boxes in local shops
• Pet Food Donation Boxes in local supermarkets
• Voluntary Donations
• Sales of Brick-a-Brack
• Stalls at local events

 If you think you can help, please contact us

Raising Funds & Awareness

RAWR does a lot of different things. This section will cover the activities that are intended to raise funds and our invovlement in community projects aimed at raising awareness.

Bantry Agricultural Show 2010

Find RAWR at the Bantry Agricultural Show this coming Sunday! All the team of volunteers will be there to launch the new Barn Cat Project. Come and talk to us about our ongoing Trap-Neuter-Return program in West Cork. But above all come to enjoy the outdoor and indoor classes, the dog show and the atmosphere.

A day to celebrate animal life in all it’s variety - even the two legged-ones ……

Cork Mini-Marathon 2010

Three RAWR volunteers presented themselves at the starting line of the 29th Evening Echo Women's Mini Marathon this Sunday, September 26 in Cork city. With 10,000 women and men entering with us, it was a great feeling to see that caring for others – both the two and four legged kind – is alive and well in County Cork.

However, it is typical of the attitude towards animals in this country at present that the speeches made on the day only mentioned the charities aiming to help people. The fact is that there were many animal (welfare) groups represented, as well as groups depending on the abilities of animals, such as the Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Determined to stay positive and make the most of our 4 miles, we talked to and exchanged information with as many animal (welfare) groups as we could find in the crowds: we met great people along the way walking and running for – in no particular order - DAWG, ISPCA, PAWS, CACS and CAT.

Our next task now is to collect on the sponsorship promises. As soon as we know how much was raised by the event, we’ll let you know. If you would like to sponsor us, that is still very much possible and appreciated!
Contact us!

Glengarriff Family Fun Day 2010

Just a quick thank you to the organisers of the Glengarriff Family Fun day, and especially Anne O'Sullivan. We really enjoyed helping out for the afternoon.

Debbie, Susy and I manned the bouncy castle. It was a happy coincidence that being RAWR volunteers, our close neighbour at the amenity area was Lucky, the drake. We could keep an eye out for him while watching the children.

The smallest visitors of the bouncy castle provided us with great entertainment. All in all, parents, children and pets alike were drawn by the beautiful weather and great atmosphere. This brilliant event was in aid of Glengarriff Community Hall. We hope to be there again next year!