Through the Manchester and Salford Animal Welfare Community and Education Working Group, Cats Protection, the Dogs Trust, PDSA, RSPCA Manchester and Salford Branch, RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, Blue Cross and Manchester City Council, have made a commitment to work together to support both owners and their pets throughout both cities. The case of the abandoned male cat in a high-rise property in Harpurhey highlights the potential effectiveness of collaborations and partnerships between animal welfare charities and community agencies and groups - such as Housing Associations – and how these links can help improve animal welfare through a multi-agency approach. After a few minutes of unsuccessfully trying to coax the cat by myself, I was finally able to persuade the reluctant cat to enter into a crusher cage – but only with the help of the Police Officer who had escorted us to the property, who kindly held the cage door open for me as I managed to carefully maneuverer the cat inside without causing it too much distress! I had also forgotten that I was still wearing a scarf, which the cat had taken great joy in clinging onto! MILO THE CAT, WAITING TO BE TAKEN INTO THE CARE OF THE RSPCA MANCHESTER AND SALFORD BRANCH | MATTHEW PAYNE // 2016 After walking through into the kitchen-lounge area, I knelt down to greet the cat, who instantly jumped up onto my shoulders and started to rub his head enthusiastically against my neck, whilst also 'meowing' constantly.
![milo the cat milo the cat](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7c/60/e8/7c60e8d13ad598276643e5366b388897.jpg)
ON MY WAY TO PICK MILO UP WITH THE POLICE | MATTHEW PAYNE // 2016Īfter only a short drive, I was granted entry to the property, where I was immediately met in the doorway by a grey and black, mackerel-patterned tabby cat, who instantly started 'meowing' loudly and rubbing up against my legs – not showing any nervousness about the three strangers who had just wandered into his home. A few moments later, I was on my way to the high-rise property, escorted by the Northwards Housing Officer, who had discovered the cat, and a Greater Manchester Police Officer. In order to get the cat out of the property as soon as possible, the RSPCA National Hotline had granted me permission to pick the cat up and deliver it to the RSPCA Manchester and Salford Branch. After speaking to the RSPCA National Hotline, with whom I registered the abandonment with them, I contacted the RSPCA Manchester and Salford Branch, who despite being constantly inundated with abandoned and unwanted cats and other animals, immediately agreed to take the male cat into their care. So, after arriving at the Northwards Housing Association Office in Harpurhey and after getting more information about the situation, I soon learnt that the previous occupant had abandoned the property to move to Lincolnshire to start a new job, and had decided to leave his cat behind in the flat. After making sure the cat had been fed, the Officer contacted me to see if there was any way I could help.Īs you can imagine, I was extremely keen to help! However, there is no Cats Protection Volunteer Branch in Manchester, and therefore, we have no rehoming facilities in place to cater for abandoned or unwanted cats. The property had been left in some disrepair, and the food that the owner had left for the cat had run out. After inspecting it with a colleague, the Officer soon discovered that the previous occupant had sadly left their cat behind to fend for itself. As I was on my way, I was contacted by Northwards Housing Association, by one of their Housing Officers, who was urgently asking for assistance with an abandoned cat which had been discovered in one of their many properties throughout North Manchester.Įarlier that day, the Officer had been informed that one of their high-rise properties in Harpurhey had been abandoned.
![milo the cat milo the cat](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e9/4d/b8/e94db8cfc0d2024be1d4ab9e990a47ef.jpg)
The importance of partnerships came to light in the middle of February this year, as I was driving into Manchester for a meeting with one of these community groups.
![milo the cat milo the cat](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/97/33/e1/9733e1c33ccd5b7852bec25690d18c1a.jpg)
So far, we have formed partnerships with several of these agencies and groups based throughout Manchester and Salford - such as local Trussell Trust foodbanks, the Greater Manchester Poverty Action Group, Age UK Manchester, various Salford Council Neighborhood Teams, Mustard Tree, Inspiring Communities, several Housing Associations/ALMOs and many more. As I mentioned in my previous blog, from the outset of the Manchester and Salford Community Cat Project, it has been absolutely key to form effective working partnerships with other local agencies and community groups in order to have the maximum outreach possible.