RICKMANSWORTH, England — A local cat rescue centre is urgently calling for help after being told it must vacate its premises by the end of the year. Precious Paws Cat Rescue, which has operated from Springwell Lane in Rickmansworth for five years, has been given notice that its lease will not be renewed by landlord Affinity Water.
The charity’s operator, Jacqui Schafer, who also lives on the site, said the situation has been “very hard,” as efforts to find a new location have so far been unsuccessful.
“We’ve got to rehome 28 cats and kittens before December,” Schafer said. “We’ve had to turn some cats away because we don’t know what we’re going to do, which is really frustrating and upsetting.”
Since setting up at Springwell Cattery, Precious Paws has rehomed around 500 cats. The charity is now appealing to the public to consider adopting or fostering animals before the deadline.
With no backup facility in place, the fate of the cats that are not adopted remains uncertain. “There are a lot of cases at the moment and we know we have the space, but we can’t take them in,” Schafer said.
The looming closure also threatens jobs. “We’re despondent and upset. Staff will be losing jobs. I’ll be losing my home and my job,” she added. Schafer said she plans to move in with her mother in Watford if no solution is found but still hopes to secure a new site for the rescue.
While she expressed no anger toward Affinity Water, Schafer hopes the company will reconsider. “They gave proper notice. It’s just the end of the contract,” she said.
A spokesperson for Affinity Water acknowledged the centre’s value to the community but confirmed the decision was final. “The tenant has enjoyed peaceful use of the premises throughout the lease period. However, we now require the premises for operational purposes in the wider public interest,” the spokesperson said.
Precious Paws is urging anyone who can adopt or foster to get in touch before December.
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