RSPCA’s Newport Adoption Centre Celebrating Third Birthday

RSPCA Cymru’s Newport Adoption Centre, based inside the Pets at Home superstore on Docks Way, is celebrating the third anniversary of its opening. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since 2013, the in-store centre, the first of its kind in Wales, has found new homes for 292 animals – 288 cats, two dogs and two rabbits. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Able to house up to six cats at one time within the centre, and working with a large network of foster carers to support more cats, the site also provides advice on responsible pet ownership and offers an opportunity for prospective owners to meet animals in a relaxed setting. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It was opened as part of a partnership between the RSPCA and Pets at Home, with advice and adoption centres opened in stores across England and Wales to re-home animals, many of whom have suffered from cruelty or neglect. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cats that the Newport-based centre has successfully re-homed include Gwen, who was found by herself in the South Wales area in March. She was estimated to be only five-days-old, and needed to be hand reared by a foster carer. After much care and attention, she was made available for re-homing and is doing very well with her new family. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thomas, too, came into the RSPCA’s care in May after being abandoned when his previous owners moved house and left him behind. The centre worked with the cat to build his confidence, and help him gain weight, before he found his forever home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To mark the anniversary, the Adoption Centre will be having a third birthday party on 15 November, between 5pm and 8pm, within the store on Mendalgief Retail Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Members of the public are welcome to pop along, with a cake sale taking place and – of course – opportunities to hear more about the cats currently up for adoption at the centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jacquie Dove, RSPCA Cymru rehoming co-ordinator, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Having found new homes for almost 300 pets since our opening, the centre looks forward to celebrating with the public our achievements since 2013. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our small team of friendly staff are always on hand to help people make the right choices about pets – from welfare advice, to finding the right new furry addition to a family. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Sadly, there are so many companion animals in need of a second chance – and many of those we see have been subject to cruelty or neglect. Our small team of staff looks forward to continuing to work with these animals, as well as the public, to find them suitable new homes.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Usual opening hours at the centre are 10.30am until 6pm, on Monday to Friday, 10.30am until 5pm on Saturday, and 10.30am until 3.30pm on Sunday. It is a separate facility to the RSPCA Newport Animal Centre, on Hartridge Farm Road. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​