A message from our Chair of Trustees thanking the Friends of Bath Cats and Dogs Home.
The start of 2025 has been marked by our move into the freshly renovated offices and vet suite at the rescue centre.
And I also want to mark it by taking a moment to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to all the members of The Friends of Bath Cats and Dogs Home, recent and past. These two moments are very much connected.
The Friends group formed in 1982, essentially acting as a fundraising arm of Bath Cats and Dogs Home. And my goodness, they were good at it.
Over the subsequent 42 years, their tireless work and commitment to improving animal welfare in our region has literally shaped ‘The Home’, as it’s affectionately known.
The Friends raised the money to build much of the infrastructure that houses the cats and dogs, and all of us humans, at Bath Cats and Dogs Home.
Some of you may remember the old converted garage that served as our reception, and into which we crammed all the office space we could. Or the old kennels, some of which dated back to the 1950s. Or when we heard the awful news that the entire drainage system for the site had to be replaced, urgently.
Each time, The Friends were there to help. They were able to step in and offer support. Just like the friends they were.
And so we survived the hard times. And thanks to their support, we were able to build kennels and catteries and vet suites. And over time, due to the stability they brought, Bath Cats and Dogs Home itself has become better able to support itself.
The charity today is a far cry from the charity we were 20 years ago, let alone 40. We have in place the support teams, systems and processes to ensure we’re fully functional and able to sustain ourselves into the future. Over time our fundraising operations have overlapped with those of The Friends group, to the point where it made sense to merge the two charities.
And in early January we completed that merger.
As their final generous contribution, the Friends have transferred the remainder of their assets to Bath Cats and Dogs Home, where like all previous financial support they will be used to:
Alleviate the suffering of animals which are in need of care and protection and prevent cruelty to animals by providing additional amenities and veterinary services.
And so, we draw to a close one of the most significant chapters in our history, just as we open the door of our refurbished main building and vet suite, and a new chapter.
Thank you to everyone who has been a member of The Friends, and an extra-special mention for everyone who has served on the Executive Committee. Bath Cats and Dogs Home would not be the charity it is today without you.
Debs Gogarty
Chair of Trustees