November Newsletter

Spooky new arrivals These mischievous kittens came into our care last month and were given suitably spooky names to celebrate Halloween season. They are Pumpkin, Cauldron and the ‘Hocus Pocus’ trio of Winifred, Billy Butcherson and Mary. They have cast a spell on us all and we think they’ll probably make you fall in love with them too! Countdown to Christmas  Christmas Events With Christmas getting ever closer there are plenty of opportunities for you to visit us at a Christmas event. You can do some gift shopping, bring your dog to see Santa or play our fundraising games. All the money raised at these events will go straight to caring for animals in our Branch area. Beccles Christmas Lights Switch On Date: Friday 25th November Time: 5.00pm – 9.00pm Beccles will be lighting up the town with Christmas spirit, hosting its annual light switch on. This is a free to attend event with varied stalls and Christmas entertainment. Hockwold Hall Christmas Fayre Date: Sunday 4^th December Time: 10.00am – 3.00pm With over 150 stalls there is something for everyone at this annual event. Please visit Hockwold Hall’s website for ticket information. Santa’s Grotto for Dogs Venue: The Forum, Norwich Date: Saturday 10^th December Time: 10.00am – 3.00pm We are back at the Forum for this annual event. Bring your dog along to visit Santa in his grotto, browse the stalls for some last-minute Christmas gifts for the people (and the dogs) in your life or play our fundraising games. Our Animal Welfare team will also be on hand to answer any questions. Canine Carol Concert Venue: Holkham Hall Date: Tuesday 20^th December Time: 10.00am – 2.00pm The concert takes place between 10.00am and 11.00am on the lawn outside the Hall, then there will be stalls to browse until 2.00pm in the Courtyard. Bring your pooch, enjoy the carols, browse the stalls then maybe enjoy a walk around the beautiful Holkham Estate. (Parking charge applies). Details on the Holkham Hall website. Christmas Cards Christmas cards are available to purchase in all our charity shops or online via our eBay shop. We have lots of lovely animal themed designs to choose from, all cards are recyclable and 100% of the proceeds go to our branch. Petplan & ADCH Animal Charity awards Nominations for The Petplan and Association of Dogs & Cats Homes Animal Charity Awards 2023 are open! Have you had a good experience with our Branch? Maybe you adopted one of our animals or had help from a member of our team. If so, please nominate us for the Petplan & ADCH Animal Charity awards. The awards celebrate the outstanding work of staff and volunteers in animal charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands. They are a great opportunity to recognise the hard work and dedication put in by teams and individuals who have gone that extra mile to help rescue and rehome animals in need. The three nomination categories are:

• Animal Charity Team of the Year
• Animal Charity Employee of the Year
• Animal Charity Volunteer of the Year

Head to the Petplan website to submit a nomination: Nominate | Animal Charity Awards 2023 | Petplan Nominations close in the New Year.   Super Mario! Meet Mario, a stunning seal point tabby who was adopted from the Branch in December 2021. As well as an adoption success story he is also a lifesaving superhero as a registered feline blood donor! A variety of conditions can cause severe anaemia in cats and sometimes this results in the need for a life-saving blood transfusion. Other blood products such as plasma (the fluid in blood without the blood cells) may also be required on occasions for management of some conditions. Unfortunately, cat blood cannot be stored in the same way that human and dog blood can, so ‘blood banks’ do not work for cats. More and more veterinary practices therefore have their own register of lifesaver cats that they can call on to donate blood in an emergency. If you have a healthy cat or dog aged between 1 and 10 years, then they too may be able to help save the lives of their four-legged friends. Speak to your local vet or visit Pet Blood Bank UK Fireworks and bonfires during the festive season      Bonfires If possible, build bonfires close to the time of lighting and check them thoroughly for animals before lighting. This can help save the lives of hedgehogs and other small animals. Fireworks Loud fireworks can be terrifying for animals, but there are things you can do to help them cope. 69% of UK adults with a pet take at least one measure to help relax or prepare their animal for firework season. Playing relaxing music is the most common. Classic FM, partnered with national RSPCA, will broadcast two special programmes from 5.00pm to 9.00pm on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th November of specially curated soothing music to help calm pets. How to calm dogs during fireworks Planning ahead can help dogs cope with the fireworks season. Before the fireworks season starts, provide your dog with a doggy safe haven. This should be a quiet area, so choose one of the quietest rooms in your home – a place where they feel in control. Don’t interfere with your dog when they’re in that area. Train your dog to associate the area with positive experiences, e.g. by leaving their favourite toys there, but not imposing yourself at any time. Use a variety of chew toys, such as stuffed Kongs and chews. Swap them regularly, putting them away when not in use so that your dog doesn’t become bored with them. With time, dogs can learn that this place is safe and enjoyable. When fireworks go off, they may choose to go there because they know, in that place, they are safe. It’s important that your dog has access to this doggy safe haven at all times – even when you’re not at home. When the fireworks start

• Walk your dog during daylight hours to avoid times when fireworks are likely to be set off.
• Move your dog to the safe haven each evening before the fireworks begin. Provide toys and other things that they enjoy in the safe haven.
• Make sure there are things for you to do too, so your dog isn’t left alone.
• Close windows and curtains to muffle the sound of fireworks. Blackout your doggy safe haven, so they can’t see any flashes outside.
• Put on some music or TV to mask the firework sounds.
• Ignore the firework noises yourself. Play with a toy to see if your dog wants to join in, but don’t force them to play.

You could also talk to your vet about pheromone diffusers. These disperse calming chemicals into the room and may be a good option for your dog. In some cases, your vet may even prescribe medication. How to help cats who are afraid of fireworks • Keep them indoors to avoid them becoming stressed. • Provide hiding places in your home e.g. under furniture or a quiet corner. • Don’t stress your cat by trying to tempt them out. Leave them until they’re ready. • Microchip your cats in case they’re startled and escape outside How to help small animals during fireworks

• Partly cover outside cages and pens with blankets so it’s soundproofed and hidden, leaving an area for animals to look out.
• Provide bedding for small animals to burrow in.
• Consider bringing them indoors – this will need to be done gradually, so plan ahead.

Keeping horses safe during fireworks It’s not just the animals in your home that can be scared of fireworks – horses can be too. If you’re a horse owner:

• Know in advance – check to see if there are going to be any firework displays in your area.
• Talk to the organisers – where possible, explain there are horses nearby and ask them to set off their fireworks in the opposite direction.

Get advice from the British Horse Society (BHS) – for top tips on keeping your horse safe and secure during the firework season. Calling all stitchers!  If you (or someone in your family) knows how to sew, then our Animal Welfare Team would love for you to make them some fabric cat carrier covers. Carrier covers keep our cats calm and prevent the spread of disease when they are being transported to veterinary visits or foster homes. The measurements and guidelines are shown below. All we ask is that the fabric used is breathable and washable; repurposed duvet and pillow covers are ideal! If you are able to make a cover for us it can be dropped off at one of our charity shops or our HQ in Ashwellthorpe (Monday to Friday between 10.00am and 4.00pm). Cat Carrier Cover Sewing Guidelines Fabric measurements

1. Using the measurements above, mark out the panels on the back of your fabric or draw the templates onto paper and pin them on.
2. Cut 3 panels measuring 13 x 20 inches and 2 panels measuring 13 x 13 inches (add a seam allowance of ½ inch on all panels).
3. Put one of the long panels aside (this will be the top of your carrier).
4. With the right sides facing together, fit and pin the side panels to the front and back sections. Sew the panels together along the short sides.
5. Take the top section and measure out the hole for the carrier handles as below (6″ x 2″).

6. Cut the fabric along the dotted lines, fold the four sections back and pin to the back of the fabric. Stitch around the opening to secure them in place. 7. Attach the top section to the other panels by sewing along all four edges. 8. Finally sew a hem of approximately a ¼ inch along the bottom edges Free Will Writing with Farewill  We have teamed up with Farewill, National Will Writing Firm of the Year 2021, to provide free wills to our supporters. We understand that you’ll want to think about your family and friends when writing your will, that’s why there is no obligation to leave a gift to us if you choose to write your will through Farewill. If you do choose to leave a us gift however, no matter how big or small the amount, you will be leaving behind a kinder future for animals in need. To claim your free will simply choose from one of the options below to get the process started. You can choose to write your will online or if you would prefer to speak to someone you can request a call from one of their helpful customer care team.  Every will is checked by one of their specialists so you can be confident that your wishes will be respected. Write your will online Get started online straight away and complete your free will in as little as 30 minutes. Simply complete the online form and enter the voucher code ‘RSPCAMN-WEB’ at check-out. Write your will over the phone You can also complete your will over the phone by requesting a callback. Remember to quote our charity name on the call. Sign up to their newsletter here