| After holding several public meetings
in the area to determine the level of interest, Scunthorpe & District Branch was finally formed in
February 1997.
The remainder of 1997 was comparatively quiet for the Branch, as we learnt by trial and error what did, and did not work for us as a
Branch.
It was a testing time for us all, but with the
moral support of our neighbouring branches, and Cats
Protection Headquarters we
survived.
1998 was a much busier time for us, the committee, through regular meetings were getting to know each other better and were working more as a team, and as our workload increased so did our experience in dealing with any manner of problems that came our way, and they did.
A couple of foster carers were recruited, chalets were erected and public awareness of the
Branch began to increase.
1999 dawned, and through the determined efforts of our committee we found ourselves in the strongest position since the
Branch was formed.
More foster carers were recruited to cope with the demand, giving us a total of nine.
Two more outdoor chalets for the cats were erected, one granted to us from headquarters out of the commemorative fund, and one bought with
Branch funds.
The year 2000 seemed to be upon us before we knew it, but we
continued with our aim of increasing our accommodation to foster cats prior to re-homing.
A purpose built set of chalets were erected at the home of our co-ordinator, Chris Watson.
Further committee members and voluntary helpers were recruited to cope
with the ever increasing workload.
In the year 2001 we purchased more
outdoor chalets, bringing our total number of outdoor chalets to eleven. Some
of these chalets being capable of accommodating more than one cat.
All the chalets meet the cat care standards set by Cats Protection
Headquarters.
The year 2002 arrived and we celebrated five years as a
Branch in
February of that year. We implemented our policy of ensuring that
all cats and kittens homed by the branch are inoculated against cat flu
and feline enteritis.
Although there have been changes within the
committee and foster carers since the birth of the Branch in 1997,
Scunthorpe & District Branch remains a small, friendly and totally
committed Branch. We have continued with our aim of providing much
needed help for the homeless cats and kittens in our area. 2003,
saw us into our seventh year of
operation. We continued to provide help as and where it was needed.
Whilst the Branch has not necessarily grown any bigger
during 2003, we feel the level of service we provide is
being maintained and if anything improved upon. November 2003 saw
some major changes within the committee. Due to changes in
circumstances our Co-ordinator since the very early days Chris Watson
stepped down as Co-ordinator and foster carer. Committee roles
were juggled around and Lyn Watson, (no relation) took over this
role. 2004 is already upon us and
with the launch of our new web site we look forward to continuing our vital work of helping the homeless and
needy cats in this area.
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