“But her unwavering spirit drives us on: she paved the way, turning compassion into action. “Dawn may no longer be able to take the reins,” Emma concludes. It’s an endeavour built upon the same dedication that inspired Dawn’s original dream. And loads of warm and purry cats to cuddle while you’re there!”Įmma and Ryan hope the project will break ground within the month, and be fully completed six weeks later – ahead of winter. “All hands are welcome there’ll be plenty of painting and hammering once we get going. “And if you’d like to donate materials or help with the construction, that too would be very much appreciated,” adds Ryan. And if you can’t, please consider fostering, rehoming, or volunteering – even simply brushing matted fur or giving medicine is a huge help!” “Though there’s still a long way to go, and every little helps. “We simply can’t believe how quickly this has taken off!” Emma enthuses. Just a few days after its launch, the campaign has already raised €6,000, and all the volunteers are thrilled by the support. And we’re trying to do it before the cold sets in.” We need to build something here that will stand the test of time. “Wood, iron, and steel are expensive so are roofing felt and wheels. “If you think I’m doing this to line my own pocket, you couldn’t be more wrong!” says Ryan, who will be publishing every cost and invoice to ensure absolute transparency. The campaign has a goal of €25,000, of which the majority will be spent on materials. Just as Dawn envisaged when she first started the shelter.” What we’re trying to create isn’t merely a building, it’s a sanctuary where every cat’s story can have a happier ending. “It’s about creating a place where the cats can heal, where infections won’t persist, and where their chances of finding a loving home are optimised. “It’s not just about a cleaner space,” says Emma. Raised off the ground and structurally braced, this cabin will ensure cats remain warm and safe throughout the coming winter, and that cages can be rolled out and cleaned with a jet wash in a matter of minutes. Using Ryan’s skills, the plan is to build a 12 by five-metre cabin that will contain 204 block-mounted, wheeled steel cages. Ryan Hart with one of his beloved rescue catsīut, with the funds raised from the gofundme campaign, the shelter will be able to establish a dedicated facility to care for the cats that are most in need. “Ĭurrently, 17 dilapidated huts – each containing between two and six cages made of rotting wood and holed mesh – are housing the shelter’s old, ill, disabled and vulnerable cats, as well as the tiniest kittens and new arrivals – all of which must be isolated from the general population until they’re treated by a vet, spayed or neutered. “We’re the kind of people who both find and effect solutions,” says Emma, “So we spoke to Mark and the other volunteers, and decided to launch a gofundme page to help raise money for an entirely new structure: one that’s safe and secure, up-to-date, and easy to clean. But with repairs no longer enough, and no money for anything beyond basic food and medication, the two have come up with an answer. With the seasonal rains already beginning, flooding is worsening the situation, Emma explains. But since Dawn’s stroke, it feels like he’s not just repairing wood and steel, he’s trying to mend the spirit and soul of the sanctuary itself.” “Ryan, especially, is up there almost every week fixing cages, walls, roofs – trying to stave off the inevitable collapse of these vital structures. “Like the other volunteers, Ryan and I give all we can to the park,” says Emma. And as a non-profit venture, the sanctuary relies almost entirely on donations and goodwill. But post-pandemic, both volunteers and money have been thin on the ground. The majority go to forever homes in the UK and the Netherlands, others to loving local families. Over the years, the Cat Park has cared for thousands of cats, and rehomed hundreds more. And what’s worse,” he reveals, “is that winter is coming…” “These huts were originally designed to house cats that need to be separated from the general population for health or safety reasons, and to receive regular care and attention. “To be honest,” says Ryan Hart, Emma’s partner and the owner of Cyprus Woodcraft, “the sheds and huts that house the most vulnerable cats are holding on by the skin of their teeth! Most were jerry built years ago, and are now on their very last legs – doors are coming off, cages can no longer be fully cleaned, the roofs are falling in. Many of the sheds used by the most vulnerable kittens are falling apart Because not only has the shelter lost its leading light, the sanctuary itself has fallen into disrepair. It’s a dream, adds Emma, that has been dying over the last year.
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