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Vet Rory's 27th Christmas appeal for cats and dogs ...

Kind Kingstanding vet Rory Lydon is celebrating his 27^th annual appeal to the animal-loving public to donate food for homeless and needy cats and dogs in ‘good time for their Christmas lunch.’ And the response began before he’d had time to get the collection box ready – but it’s now decorated up with tinsel to tally with the season of goodwill.

Says Rory: “We appeal every year for donations to our collection box at Lydon Veterinary Centre on Kingstanding Road and at our sister practice – Scotts Vets on the Walsall Road, Great Barr. And all the cat-and-dog dinners donated will be shared between two very deserving charities – North Birmingham Cats Protection and Holly Trees Dog Rescue & Boarding in Hollywood - both do fantastic work. And every year I’m heartened at the generosity of the public – donating litter and toys as well as cat and dog food for all the deserving little creatures in rescue care over Christmas.” 

Cats Protection volunteer Sheila Pennell called in at Lydons with her foster cats early in December and took the opportunity to ‘snap’ Rory in his Father Christmas hat and showing-off  this year’s ‘food for felines’ collection box.

Sheila is currently fostering three cats – two young adults and one kitten – who need a different sort of ‘home’ to most Cats Protection cats. They came from a multi-cat household where they spent most of their time outdoors in the garden.

Says Sheila: “After trying to socialise and make these three – Gypsy, Gladys and kitten Giovanni – friendly, we’ve come to the conclusion that they probably need to stay together and leave foster-care to enjoy a more ‘free-style’ life at stables or on a farm. Or just live as garden or outdoor cats with the chance they might come indoors and become friendly if someone has loads of patience. They’re all attractive and not aggressive – just hard to make friends with! But even if they’ve not found a placement before Christmas, they’re sure of a good meal now – thanks to Rory and public generosity.”

* See the three cats mentioned - Giovanni, Gladys and Gypsy - on the ‘adopt a cat’ page.  

** Cats Protection North Birmingham is currently keen to recruit more fosterers. Do contact the helpline if you have a spare room and want to cat-chat about fostering and what it involves. Donations of cat food can also be dropped off at the Cats Protection shop at 104 Erdington High Street.