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Our latest Newsletter
Dear friends It has come to the end of another eventful year at Silverlake. In January 09 severe weather conditions caused a huge water disaster when the entire property was flooded and was the subject of an insurance claim. Because there were so many claims being made the insurance builders were unable to start until July. The house was uninhabitable and took from Feb to April just to dry out, as it was made from timber. The property in general was in a dilapidated condition caused by so many years of neglect, due to lack of money, with all available funds being used to feed the animals and pay vet bills. We had no choice but to move the animals out. Molly the horse and Gretel the goat have temporarily moved to Wellow for the duration of the work fostered by Matt and Fern. All the cats and fowl are mainly in foster homes. We removed seven mobile homes that the cats were housed in and have new cat pens waiting to be put up when the cats return in the early part of next year. The stable block will need a lot of renovation and we hope to be doing a lot of fundraising to achieve this so that Molly and Bruce her new friend rescued from a field in Dorset, in bad condition, will enjoy the remainder of their lives in comfort. We have not been idle during this year. Silverlake funds have helped lots of animals with spaying, feeding and vet bills. Due I think to the recession, people now seem unable to pay vet bills as the cost of vet care goes up and up and the difference between PDSA, RSPCA care and vet care, becomes wider. People are simply unable to afford vet care for their animals or the cost of insurance. Silverlake has bridged the gap on many occasions this year. This year has been dreadful lots of animals are being abandoned especially cats. After a couple of years of making money from them they are no longer getting the right price for the kittens and now we are dealing with the aftermath, spaying mothers and rehoming the unwanted kittens. We have had 64 cats and kittens this year which is not a huge amount but if this is a sign of the times, then next few years will be dreadful. Winn, I hope, will be very pleased with the way Silverlake is shaping up and her life’s work continuing. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and that 2010 will be a great year for you! Best Wishes Rose Milne
Phone: 023 80559552
E-mail: rose@silverlake.org.uk