2011 02 17 Come And Meet Us!!!

This is a personal invitation to attend the Rural Animal Welfare Resources (RAWR) volunteer meeting. The get-together is both informative and social - Curious? Come Along & Bring Friends!

Date: Thursday February 17th
Location: Bantry Bay Hotel, Bantry Square
Time: 6.30 to 8.00 PM

2011 05 01 Sunday Crookhaven Stall

You are MOST WELCOME to join RAWR this coming Sunday in Crookhaven.

We'll have a bric-a-brac stall outside O'Sullivan's pub on the harbour.
Just follow the signs for Crookhave (tip of the mizen head, close to Barley Cove)

.....If you like sitting out in the sun, walking on the beach or generally relaxing with a glass of something cool
COME ALONG! .. Chances are, your friends will like some of the same activities: why not invite them too!?

Hope to meet you there!

PS.
If anybody can help transport the boxes with items out to Crookhaven, please contact Didi: 027 66859.
We hope to sell so much, we won't have transportation issues going back to Bantry!

PS2.
The more the merrier! Any help between 12 and 5 on Sunday is really appreciated.
Even if you have just a half hour, any time you have available is great!
Please contact Didi on 027 66859.

All For Animals - calendar 2011

All For Animals is an amazing initiative that brings together twelve regional animal welfare groups. Their inaugural fund raising activity is a calendar for 2011 . You can show your support by buying your calendar at the RAWR stall on the Friday market in Bantry, at our shop in Glengarriff (Saturday and Sunday, 12-17) or online at All for Animals.

All year long, you’ll be entertained and enchanted by a photo and a story of a dog rescued and re-homed by the participating groups. Together, these twelve groups represent a safe haven for an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 dogs & pups every year. The charities represented are:

• Animal Heaven Animal Rescue, Co. Kerry
• Celtic Animal Life Line, Kildare/West Wicklow
• Clare Animal Welfare, Clare/Limerick
• Cottage Rescue, Tipperary South
• Dundalk Dog Rescue, Co. Louth
• Dungarvan Rescue Kennels, Co. Waterford
• Friends of the Animals, Co. Westmeath
• MADRA, Galway/Connemara
• Monaghan SPCA, Co. Monaghan
• Tipp-Off Animal Rescue, Offaly /North Tipperary
• West Cork Animal Welfare Group, Co. Cork
• Wexford Pet Helpers, Co. Wexford/Co. Carlow

Mini Marathon promises delivered!

After crossing the finish line, our three RAWR volunteers faced their final challenge to collect on the sponsorship promises. We have been very lucky to find so many generous sponsors this year. The total came to €872!

To give you an idea of what such an amount means to our group: we can Trap-Neuter-Return nearly 18 abandoned-domestic/feral cats which in turn will help prevent 100 unwanted kittens being born*.

* TNR costs based on subsidised neutering rates offered by local veterinary practices in West Cork; statistics based on 2 litters per queen per year with 2.8 kittens per litter surviving.

RAWR! Better Together, Working Together

Oh Lordy! What a panic!! We've just managed to submit our video/photo montage into the Better Together competition - one and a half hours before the deadline! Whew!

The deadline for voting came in about 5 minutes after our video was okayed (my fault for late entry). Do check out the RAWR Better Together video anyway. It's worth a look!

It's the first video I've ever done. We're well pleased with it and very grateful to Hungry Lucy and Pete the Vet for letting us use their music and photo respectively. It's a chance for us to win €3000 for RAWR! Especially for the animals. And some good publicity either way. We'd one and a half hours to spare. Phew! *raises shakey hand to damp brow*

Let us know what you think!!!

You can also see the video at YouTube.

Music: Standing Ones by Hungry Lucy, with permission.

Image of Pete the Vet with permission

Logos with permission:

Feral Cats Ireland
West Cork Animal Welfare Group
Cork CAT
Irish Animals
Alley Cat Allies

Lyrics:

Broken down we hit the floor
Anger turns to sorrow
Is it justified that we
Won't see tomorrow
Screaming in pain
I cannot stay
Remember me as I was yesterday

We are born into this world
Too small to crawl
Too blind to see
We must come together
Above it all
We are the standing ones

Even though I'm in the ground
My dreams are waking
As I watch you on your knees
My heart is breaking
Come find me in the green

[lil miaow]

We must come together
Above it all

Full unedited version of this wonderful song is here.

Shed or Outbuilding Sought!

Thanks to the successful cooperation with New Start Cat Rescue in the UK, eighteen Irish kittens (from RAWR, Cork CAT and SNIP (in Mallow, no web pages yet)) will be finding their new homes in the UK over the coming days. And nine kittens were rehomed while we were over there!!!

It is sad, but true RAWR had no enquiries at all for rehoming in the last few months of 2010. In the UK there is a ... hold your breath ... WAITING LIST for rehoming. It makes you wonder what we're not doing right here in Ireland, doesn't it? But that is not why I am writing this.

Muriel came back from her trip, and I had volunteered to learn 'all about' infection control. I thought it sounded pretty glamorous - but it really means a lot of cleaning. This is to prevent contamination of our fostering environment and our transport from various infectious diseases, such as Feline Infectious Enteritis (FIE) and ringworm.

After an afternoon of cleaning, spraying, soaking and washing, I finally figured it out ... What RAWR needs is an unused shed or outbuilding with somebody who doesn't own pets. That way no pets can come near the possibly contaminated items and risk infection. Muriel also fosters for RAWR, so her house is not ideal. Does anybody know of such a place, preferably close to Bantry? It will have to have running water and a drainage point. We would probably use it a few times a year for an afternoon, but an old bath tub would be stored there in the mean time. The bath tub is not for drowning unwanted kittens!!! (believe it or not, some people actually do do that) but for soaking items in disinfectant, in case you wondered ...

Contact Didi for tips and information: didi@rawr.ie

Street Collection 2010

The permit for the 2010 Street Collection has come through!

Anybody who has time to spare on Friday September 10th? We are looking for volunteers, helpers, supporters and friends to shake the bucket in Bantry town.

Anyone can help, even if you only have an hour. You can already make a big difference! Bring your four-footed friend along; they'll get loads of attention and TLC.

Contact us for details and information.

Textile Recycling

Did you know your old clothes, bags, shoes and textiles can help raise funds for RAWR? Help feral cats and dogs while reducing your carbon footprint and saving our natural environment. I don’t see any drawbacks here! The money raised with your textiles STAYS IN WEST CORK!

Call us for a special recycling bag or fill a bin liner with your items. Then contact us for collection on 086 844 3244 or email us!

The textiles donated to RAWR are delivered to and processed by a fully licensed recycling company. They grade/sort all items and export clothes that can be re-worn to many third-world countries. Anything that is not suitable for re-wear is recycled using special processes to make items, such as flocking for mattresses, underlay for carpets, soundproofing for cars and industrial cleaning wipes. RAWR receives 4 euro per special-recycling bag. Funds raised pay for our Trap Neuter Return program for feral cats.

What RAWR collects for recycling

• Adult clothing
• Children’s Clothing
• Linens, but not duvets or pillows
• Curtains
• Shoes
• Belts
• Handbags

Although it is not animal welfare related, RAWR supports this initiative by the national government and the recycling companies in diverting textile waste away from landfills and promoting a culture of Re-Use. Man-made fibres will not decompose in a landfill. While woollen garments do compose, they produce Methane adding to Global Warming.

Barn Cats Looking For Employment

 Listed below are contact details for Barn cats looking for employment as vermin control. Not all these cats reside with RAWR, some are still at their current location waiting for a position to arise. Their contact details are listed with their advert.

All For Animals Calender

Hey there cats and dawgs, just to let you know the fantastic All for Animals calender has come out and RAWR has them on sale! 
The calenders can be bought in the RAWR charity shop in Bantry (Wed - Sat) and via this website. Simply contact info@RAWR.ie. The Calendars retail at a very reasonable €6.00 each (plus postage & packing if ordered on-line). Get them quick as there is a limited number. There is a cat and a dog version and both make fantastic presents for a certain time of year!!
 
Visit www.allforanimals.ie for all information about this project.

Bric-A-Brac Deluxe

 Following on with our fund raising month of September, from the 6th to the 13th we have been able to secure a shop in Bantry town for our bric-a-brac sale! 
So pop in and have a nosey through our huge selection of bits and bobs, you never know what you might find!
We are also looking for any volunteers who might be willing to spend a couple of hours in the shop helping out.
Contact: susy@rawr.ie for info or if you would like to volunteer.

Carol Singing

 Its that time of year again folks, no its not the auditions for X-fator, its carol singing season!! RAWR is looking for volunteers to belt out a few on the 16th of December between 11am and 3pm, its all in good fun and for a good cause.
Sily hats will be supplied but feel free to bring your own if you wish! Small people and four legged friends are also welcome to attend.
 
Contact: susy@rawr.ie to let us know if you are coming.

Evening Echo Mini Marathon 2011

 Sign up and be part of the team participating in this years mini marathon to raise funds for RAWR! 
You can walk, run, jog or even skip should you so wish! The whole point of the event is to have fun and we do every year. Last year RAWRY our mascot even wallked it for us, so who knows what will happen this year. 
 
http://www.corkminimarathon.com/

Flag day 2011

 This year RAWR's flag day is on the 2nd of September. Every year we hold this event we get a fantastic response form the public, both with donations and of course their time in volunteering to collect for us. 
Even if you can only spare a couple of hours we would greatly appreciate it!
If you would like to help out please contact RAWR on: 0868443244 - you can tex your number and that you would like to volunteer or email us on info@rawr.ie.
 *Sorry folks the date has changed from the 9th to the 2nd, there was a mistake with the form and we were given the wrong date!*

New Year, New Start, New shop!

 Well folks we're off! The charity shop was such a sucess we decided to give it a shot long term!
After a bit of refurbishment, the new shop is looks fab and very swish! We have moved to Main St. Bantry across from the card shop and just before the corner where John Hurley's hardware shop is.
 
The textile recycling is as always on going and donations can be dropped in to the shop. We have some gorgeous items in stock and hopefully some more pretty things on the way in.
To celebrate the opening there is a raffle for various nice prizes and tickets are available in the shop for sale. Draw for the prizes is on the 14th of February so grab your tickets quick and drop in for a gander at the new premises!!
 
As always we are looking for any volunteers to keep the shop open as much as possible - without your help we can't open, so if you have a free few hours please think a bout helping out! If you would like to know more about volunteering your time in the shop, you can contact us on info@RAWR.ie and we will try to accomadate you as best we can!

Rawr shop in Bantry

 Following on from the massive success of our charity shop, we have taken a bit of a gamble and decided to try and keep the theme going until Christmas. We have rented a shop in Main St, Bantry and hopefully we will have the premises open for 4-5 days a week.
Sooooo if any of you out there think you could spare a couple of hours a week to help keep the shop going it would be greatly appreciated. Without our volunteers and the people who donate their time and energy we wouldn't be the success we are, so for that a huge thank you but to keep the success going we need more help!!
If you think you could volunteer for a couple of hours a week in the RAWR shop Please contact: 
Susy@rawr.ie or 086 8443244
Lets keep it going!!

ARAN Offers to Save Wallabies Lives, Please Leave a Supporting Comment

ARAN's work to save the wallabies that Circus Sydney apparently wanted to kill before leaving Ireland was highlighted in the Tribune on Sunday.

The article is reproduced in full here. Do check it out. And leave a supporting comment! This respected Irish Sunday newspaper has tens of thousands of readers and your comment may very well touch many hearts and minds. And please be sure to let ARAN know when you leave a comment - they'd love to hear from you!

Aran Rally In Cork!!

A rally organised by ARAN will be held in Cork City in October, can you join and show your support for the long over due changes??
The charismatic John Carmody and his dedicated team are looking for all hands on deck!!
 
Dear Members & Supporters;
 
We've seen the horrific images, we've heard their screams, and we know the suffering animals are enduring. Animal rescue groups, individuals and campaign groups are swept off their feet trying to deal with the huge surge in abandoned animals and cruelty cases, and we're desperately trying to fight back any further abuses from happening, whilst working to change hearts and minds. We don't need to remind you as to how bad the situation for animals is in Ireland. There is something you can do about it. It's shameful to say that our only scrap of legislation we currently have dates back to 1911, that's right, 1911! When people call us up and ask us to get involved in cruelty cases, sometimes we can only tell them there is nothing we can do because the current legislation sticks us in a corner. At the moment Ireland is a free-for-all for any person, persons or business that wants to abuse or make profit from an animal, but ARAN are determined to put a stop to this, but we can't do it alone.
 
JOIN HUNDREDS OF CARING PEOPLE FROM ACROSS IRELAND FOR ARAN'S ALL-IRELAND RALLY BEING HELD THIS YEAR IN CORK CITY!
 
We're asking our national supporter base to take just one day this year out of your time and travel to Cork City to join with us for a peaceful march around the city centre that has been specially organised with the help of the Gardai. 
 
            When: Saturday, October 29
 
            Where: Grand Parade Plaza, Cork City
 
            Time: 1.30pm sharp (Finish up by 4pm)
 
            Contact: John Carmody 087-2391646 / Caroline Nyhan 087-9935030 
 

Our volunteers at ARAN can only do so much and we desperately need you to do something, anything, to highlight and encourage everyone you know to attend. You can do this by putting a notice up on Facebook and a video which we will have very soon, along with posters and leaflets, the other most important thing you can do is to please schedule October 29 in for this one special day, it does not happen very often and it's the least we all can do considering the war that's being waged against animals. It's going to be a great day, you'll get to meet countless kind people and most of all you'll be saying, 'Not in My Name'. Click here to see exciting news footage from TV3 of our previous event that was held in Dublin. 
 
For Dublin supporters, we are looking to organise a bus going from Dublin to arrive safely back in Dublin about 6pm that evening. We will only book this if we can get 50 supporters to commit to a seat each along with a €10.00 donation that will cover the full cost of the coach so as not to drain ARAN of our limited budget that we strictly direct towards fighting animal abuse. Please be sure to have your seat reserved without delay as we anticipate a strong response. Please RSVP your attendance! Take a moment to send an email to let us know if you are attending and indeed if you can do anything to help promote the event. The worst thing you can do right now is to ignore this appeal, this will encourage animal abusers and will prolong our struggle to end animal abuse. Please forward this email onto everyone you know. For just one day on October 29 we're asking people from across the nation to join hands, come together, and say, 'this cruelty has got to stop'.
 
Thanks to so many of you for all you have done for the animals over the years with ARAN. It's because ofyour actions that Ireland is taking notice of the animals' plight, and it's because of your support that ARAN continues to be a fearless, determined and effective voice for all animals. We could never do it without you.
 
ARAN
 
'Fighting animal abuse across Ireland'
 
 www.aran.ie

August 24-30th 2009

From John Carmody of ARAN

ARAN has designated August 24-30th 2009 as our official week of action against the Irish greyhound racing industry. During this week in Ireland, we are working on staging peaceful events outside of every possible greyhound stadium there is in North and South of the country but we desperately need people who say they care to get involved.

---

I remember as a young child throwing stones and sticks at a terrified greyhound that slept in a back shed a few blocks from where I live. Every day myself and other 'friends' went out of our way to terrify the poor helpless dog that used to live in this filthy run down shed for shelter. Once we'd get to him we'd start throwing stones, he would run terrified out of the shed and through the fields with his helpless frail body to get away. He would not return for many hours.

Back then I was a young child and never thought any different about greyhounds or indeed any other animal. Now I look back and realize that maybe every time I tormented him and throw stones at him he was actually feeling pain and so scared that he'd try run as fast as he could to get away to keep himself safe, I am sure he valued his own little precious life just as much as you and i value ours? Thinking back still touch's me to the point where I feel so guilty-but I knew no different. Today it is a different situation, i learned from then about respecting animals and my life has been devoted to ending their suffering and torment. But yet every single day in Ireland there are greyhounds all over the country been dumped into rivers with rocks tied to their little feet and their ears cut off so that they are non identifiable, this is the Irish greyhound racing industry at it's best when they no longer want the ones who are 'useless' or 'unwanted'. These poor animals are literally running for their lives and we must do everything we can to educate people about their suffering and exploitation and work towards ending this horribly cruel activity because many people out there just don't know any different, so we must be the greyhound's best advocate and use our voice for theirs.

ARAN has designated August 24-30th 2009 as our official week of action against the Irish greyhound racing industry. During this week in Ireland, we are working on staging peaceful events outside of every possible greyhound stadium there is in North and South of the country but we desperately need people who say they care to get involved. During this week of action ARAN will be getting in touch with some local members and supporters to organize local events in their area, we are happy to provide free of charge leaflets, posters, stickers, organizing advice and much more - we are simply asking you to give just a couple of hours for this one week, is it really much to ask for? At ARAN many of our volunteers work day and night fighting animal abuse - we're simply asking you for just two hours during our week of action against the Greyhound industry in Ireland. Our aim of this week is to educate people about the cruelty of greyhound racing and, of course, call for an end to government grants to this business and our sights of course are to see an end to this cruel exploitive industry. Whilst our heads are in the clouds our feet are firmly on the ground.

I hope that you'll find it in your heart to give up just two hours of your time as these beautiful and gentle dogs are literally running for their lives.

Thanks for all that you are doing to help animals,

John Carmody

Relevant Links
Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN)

Bantry Agriculture show 2011

 RAWR was delighted to attend the Bantry agricultural show in the capacity of sponsor to one of the dog show catagories. Unfortunatlye due to the increadible wind and rain, we were unable to have the information stand this year.
The wind was so fantastic it was a good job too as many of the traders ahd to hang on to their canopies for dear life!
Apart from the absolute soaking the day was fun and all going well RAWR will be in attendence again next year, so hopefully the weather will cooperate next time!

Do you think it’s acceptable to wear fur?

From ARAN

If the answer is 'no' then please click here and vote NO. Once you have finished voting, be sure to pass this info far and wide to let others know just how much you give a damn about animal abuse and why it is NOT acceptable to wear fur.

Did you vote? If so, please be sure to let ARAN know how you voted by sending them a quick reply – they're going to track just how many people actually give a damn about helping the animals!

Thank you for all that you do to help animals,
ARAN

Food Box Donation

We recently launched our food box appeal. The box is located in Supervalu Bantry near the exit, once you leave the till area. If you can spare a couple of moments of your time, you could pick a couple of extra tins of food or a bag of nuts or anything that takes your fancy and as you leave on your way home, pop it in to the box.

No amount is too small and every little bit helps. All foods donated will go to help local animals.

New pet food donations box - Durrus!

RAWR has been very lucky to open a second collection point for pet food donations.
You can find the new pet food box at The Village Grocer in Durrus!

Please donate kitten food & puppy nibbles which is used mostly for fostering abandoned youngsters that have hopes of finding for-ever homes. Or maybe put in a bag of dry food, tins or other animal items. Even your spare coppers are very much appreciated as it does add up!

As our Trap Neuter Return program expands, more cats and colonies are being supervised. Colony management includes keeping an eye on the general health of the animals as well as the arrival of new/unneutered animals. Colony management includes feeding and that is why we have the pet food boxes around West Cork. We share the food with other animal welfare groups if our store is getting full(er) - Nothing ever goes to waste with RAWR!