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Feline Lifelines - English (summary)

Feline Lifelines - Kat uit de Gracht in English

Because lots of cats die from drowning in our neighbourhood, Havenwijk Zuid in Leiden, the Netherlands, we thought up a simple but effective plan: feline lifelines ('Kat uit de Gracht').

The beautiful logo was made by artist Halbe Nicolai.

We have received hundreds of metres of sturdy boating rope from a couple of donors (i.e. Touwhuis van Adrichem and Connexxion Water) and we've started to hang those ropes in various ways along the docks and canals in our community.

Since the start in May 2009 at least ten cats have succesfully saved themselves by using a feline lifeline!

ijswandelen_overzicht

But...ten cats have also been found drowned. We are very disappointed but have all the more reason to continue with this project.

We are sponsored and supported by the Animal Welfare (Dierenbescherming) region Rijnland, and backed up by the Council (with 3000 euros in March 2010!) the Watermanagementdepartment (Hoogheemraadschap), Animal Ambulance, Dierenmeldpunt and various other institutions and groups.

 

 

Most recent developments:

  • as a result of the article in Majesteit (see below) two volunteers in the city of Delft started following our guidelines and began their own feline lifeline-group!
  • majesteitin June/July 2010 we featured in a big article (4 pages in full colour) in Majesteit, a glossy magazine especially for cats and their owners
  • we launched an information-flyer on the 3rd of June 2010, containing amongst others a 'mindmap', explaining step by step how to set up your own 'feline lifeline-system' in your city
  • from March onwards we received a couple of more requests from other cities for help: they would like to start their own 'feline lifeline' activies there as well: Almere, Amersfoort (two request from this city, from different communities) Utrecht and Hoorn
  • in March 2010 we launched the 'meldingspagina', through which everyone can report 'wet' cats in the Leiden area. With the help of these reports, we can pinpoint where new feline lifelines are needed most urgently (and maybe take away the reason why cats fall into the water locally)
  • we also received 3000 euros form our local council to support our activities
  • in March 2010 we went to meet our new rope-distributor, Touwhuis.com in Alblasserdam. He gave us 100 metres of very nice feline lifelines!
  • in January and February 2010 three cats saved themselves with a feline lifeline after crashing through the thin layer of ice on our canals (see the picture above)
  • in November 2009 we were contacted by another group of cat-lovers from Edam, and their spokesperson from the Partij voor de Dieren from Noord-Holland. Since they have the same high canal-walls as we do, they thought it wise to ask us how we started our campaign. And how we got the council to agree with the plan, because that's a big issue in Edam!

 

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