“Welcome to Sussex East & Hastings Branch of the RSPCA. Bluebell Ridge is a Safe Haven for cats everywhere who are looking for a new home or are in need of help. Please note the opening hours for the Cattery are now 11am – 3pm every day except Thursdays. The Branch also covers Dog Rehoming which is carried out on a home to home basis. The website is now proving invaluable as a photo-gallery for showing the dogs available as we do not have kennel facilities that can be visited as with the cats at Bluebell Ridge. Both cat and dog re-homing pages are updated on a day to day basis.

Regrettably we have now had to launch an URGENT APPEAL to raise £150,000 which the cattery needs to stay open and secure its future.   This is due to the recession which has hit all charities and we have seen our donations across all areas fall sharply.  This is along with rising costs, particularly on the medical side following the closure of the cattery at the end of the summer due to a virus where nearly all of the cats needed considerable medication to alleviate discomfort and bring them back to health. The Staff and Volunteers at that time were brilliant with longer hours being put in unpaid, to help us get through that period and get the cattery up and running again as during that period no cats were able to be reserved or homed, so no income coming into the cattery.

Bluebell Ridge opened in 2000 and at any time we are homing about 50 cats and kittens who are trying to find homes.  We home approximately 25 – 30 cats each month.  Sussex East and Hastings Branch (incorporating Bluebell Ridge) is a completely self funding Branch and does not receive any financial support from the main RSPCA, we rely completely on the generosity of our supporters through our various fund raising events and Schemes.  But with money running out fast we are asking anyone who can organise a fundraising event on our behalf, whether by an individual or by a pub, club or Society to do so for which both us and the cats in our care would be extremely grateful.

So far, since the appeal launched on the 13th November, we have received wonderful support whether it be from a pensioner who can only afford £5 to much larger donations of £1000 – All are gratefully received and to those who have donated a Really Big Thankyou – so please keep the money coming in to help us do the vital work for rehoming and caring for unwanted cats in Hastings and local areas.   Not all of the cats we help are unwanted, some have just strayed too far, we can see they have been loved and cared for but without a microchip there is little hope of reuniting them with their loving owner unless they perhaps see the cat on our website, or we think it matches the description of one that has been reported lost.  It really is lovely to see when that happens.   So please, to avoid any heartache  do get your cat microchipped – you can arrange to have this done at the cattery or at your local vets, many are doing this at a special rate.

There's plenty of information on the website about our work, and the cats and dogs we have available for adoption, and you can also find out how you can help us. Donations, no matter how large or small are especially needed at this time and the details you need can be found on the How To Donate page. People help us in all sorts of ways, from young children donating some of their pocket money to people who sponsor our pens, and/or help out at events.

Vital to the Branch is the regular money coming in from our Safe Haven Pen Sponsors and Faithful Friends members whose regular contributions are invaluable to the work the Branch does. If you are interested in joining either of these schemes please click on the relevant scheme and it will take you directly to the page which gives all the information you will require. We would love you to join us and your name will be displayed either above the pen you are sponsoring, or on the special Faithful Friends Notice Board at the Cattery. You will also be mentioned in our newsletter, which goes out two or three times a year and will receive a calendar each December.  You will also have access to the Members section of the website. Your regular donation can be for as little or as much as you can afford and if you are a taxpayer, Gift Aid can boost your donation by approximately 28p in the £.

Another way in which you can help is to remember us when making your Will, but please do remember all RSPCA Branches are separate registered charities. So if you would like animals in your local area to benefit, please make sure the legacy wording reads. “I give £…. To RSPCA, Sussex East & Hastings Branch, Registered Charity Number 206314. I specify that this legacy must be used to benefit animals within the branch area.”

 We are compiling our events list for 2010 at the moment so if you can arrange an event on our behalf, please let us know and we will advertise on this page. Also if you have any time to spare and would like to help us at an event, please get in touch with Julie at the Centre during Opening hours or visit our Charity Shop in Bexhill. Help can be in many ways, either by manning a stall, holding a collection tin on our flag days or at Tesco's during RSPCA week, baking cakes etc for our refreshment stall at one of our events or simply just by turning up with your family to support us. Our volunteers are vital to our cause and all help is gratefully received.

The main reason Bluebell Ridge is here is to care for unwanted and stray cats that come into us and to see them happily rehomed so if you are interested in adopting a cat please go and have a look at the Cats for Rehoming page which is updated on a daily basis.  Do also make sure you take a look at our information on adoption. It takes a special type of person to adopt a cat, some with very different needs and give them all the love and attention needed, and the dedicated people at Bluebell Ridge take every care to ensure the right cat is rehomed to you.
 
We also love to hear from anyone who has adopted a cat or dog from Sussex East and Hastings Branch with details of how they have settled into their new home and how they are now getting on together with a photograph showing them in their new surroundings. Please do send in your letters and Photos to Bluebell Ridge and these may be used in our Newsletters.

Volunteers Needed! Can you spare a few hours on a regular basis as a volunteer at the Centre or a helper at one of our fundraising events? Please give us a call on 01424 752121.”

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RSPCA Emergency Helpline Number : 0300 1234 999

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All information on this website is Copyright to Bluebell Ridge (RSPCA) Cat Rehoming Centre unless otherwise stated.