Hi everyone,

It’s not often that we post charity appeals but this particular small charity in Skiathos, Greece has really touched our hearts and deserves all the help they can get! If you could share their story it would be much appreciated. 🙂

For anyone that has not heard about the fantastic work of the Skiathos Cat Welfare Association, here is a brief summary:

Skiathos Cat welfare has helped the needy cats of Skiathos since 2005, becoming a Greek registered charity in 2011 (charity registration number 2177/2011)

During this time, the charity has neutered over 6,000 cats, provided food 365 days a year to over 300 cats around the island, plus the 150+ in the charity’s care. We also provide medical care to the street cats of Skiathos. All this is paid from donations from tourists visiting the Island, monthly donations from supporters, our online gift sales and auctions and food donations from our online food store. This generosity allows us to function on a month to month basis. We do not receive any Government funding! From October 2016 to October 2017 the charity neutered 646 cats with the kind help of volunteer vets, vet nurse, local and international volunteers and kind donations.

Sharon Hewing has given her time 365 days a year and provided a safe place for the cats and kittens in her own home! As a charity we urgently need to secure a future and provide a place for the cats and kittens. Not just as a short term solution but one that is sustainable for many years to come. Due to changes at the current location the cats now have very little protection against bad weather, making cats and kittens already vulnerable even more so, and they will soon have no place at all.

Unfortunately the charity is now facing a huge CRISSIS. The cats and kittens current place of safety is being prepared to be sold. The cats will have nowhere to go. Please find the charities plea below:

There are around 150+ cats and 30 or more kittens that need shelter, warmth and security. There are also blind cats to consider, who have always had the security of being indoors. Therefore, we have to find a solution to secure the future of the charity and the cats of Skiathos. Not only for now, but for years and hopefully generations to come. In order to do this, we are looking for funds to secure the future of the charity. Not only for the cats already in our care but also for the Skiathos cats in need that have yet to cross our path. Unfortunately, renting a property in Skiathos has proven not to be an option with the amount of cats and the legal regulations that are required. This will only leave us with three options: getting land donated, purchasing land or purchasing land with suitable buildings (that conform to Greek law so that it can get the official recognition as a shelter) However, HUGE funds are needed to secure the future of the charity. Land donatedWe have formally asked the municipality to actively seek land that can either be donated or offered at a nominal rent. We would then need to make this land safe with adequate fencing, provide sheltered areas for the cats, separate area for kittens and blind cats water tank, storage, manual labour to install and more. Costings estimated on this is circa €40,000 Purchase land If every avenue has been exhausted to obtain donated land, then a major investment would be needed to purchase land on behalf of the charity. We would again need to make sure this land is safe with adequate fencing, provide sheltered areas for the cats, separate area for kittens and blind cats water tank, storage, manual labour to install and more. Costings estimated on this is circa €140,000 Purchase land with building already in situation This option would need a major investment but would be the best long term solution for the safety and security of the charity and the cats of Skiathos for generations to come. This could provide a quarantine area, kitten nursery, accommodation for volunteers, vet room, laundry room, larger living area for the cats. Legal work and so on. This could be anywhere from €200,000 plus Please donate anything you can, every single penny/cent counts. We cannot let all the amazing work that Sharon and the volunteers have done over the years go to waste. The cats and kittens of Skiathos deserve a chance at happiness, and they deserve to be safe and protected for generations to come. Donation information and other ways to help the charity can be found on the Skiathos website. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

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