Local pet hero takes in 100th homeless cat

 Carlisle based Blue Cross volunteer foster carer, Joanne Park, has taken in her 100th homeless cat. She signed up for the charity in October 2010 and also co-ordinates other volunteer cat foster care schemes in the area.

Joanne has even converted her home to provide secure accommodation for the cats and create a special isolation unit for sick cats or tiny kittens needing her extra special care.

Michelle Smith, Blue Cross Regional Fostering Manager said: "We are so grateful to all of our hard working volunteers but, with the arrival of Nerine, Joanne really deserves to be recognised for her endless dedication, commitment and time in helping so many homeless pets. It is with enormous thanks to Joanne that we have been able to find happy new lives for so many local cats in need."

Joanne graduated from university in 2012 with a BSc in Forensic Science and now works part time in a local hospital. She enjoys her volunteering work so much she is considering taking a course to find out more about animal behaviour and rescue work so that she can go even further in helping the cats she, and other local foster carers, are looking after. 

Joanne continued: "I can't imagine not being as a foster carer and coordinator for Blue Cross. To play a part in improving the lives of so many cats and kittens lives is unbeatable - and well worth all the muck and mess. To say it is a 'calling' sounds like such a cliché but I can't think of a better way to describe it!"

Nerine is a young cat who arrived into care pregnant. When all her kittens have been weaned they, and Nerine will be looking for new homes.

To find out more about the homeless cats in Cumbria looking for new homes, the work of the charity, becoming a volunteer, or to make a donation please visit www.bluecross.org.uk. You can also contact the local cat foster scheme 0300 777 1920.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• Blue Cross has been dedicated to helping poorly, injured and abandoned pets for over 100 years. We opened the world’s first animal hospital in 1906 and since then our doors have never closed to sick and homeless animals.
• Today we run four animal hospitals and 12 rehoming centres across the UK, which provide treatment and seek happy homes for thousands of cats, dogs, small pets and horses every year.
• Blue Cross actively campaigns to improve all aspects of animal welfare, working with the government, schools and others to improve the lives of pets and their owners. For more information, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk.

Media contact

Louise Lee, 020 7932 4066 or [email protected]