Hello from Stadhampton!
We hope August has been kind to you, whether that meant a proper holiday, a few days away over the bank holiday, or simply making the most of the long, dry evenings closer to home. It has been a glorious stretch of weather, the sort of summer we used to be told only existed in old photographs, and the sanctuary has had that lovely late-August feel to it: paths dusty, grass gone the colour of straw, and cats claiming every scrap of shade.
The weather has thankfully broken a little over the past few days. The rain was very welcome. The thunder, as far as the dogs were concerned, was not. But whatever the sky is doing, the team are here as always, and the routine carries on: feeding, cleaning, walking, and getting the next group of animals ready for their new lives.
And what a month it turned out to be. August was a bumper month for rehoming, with 62 animals heading off to their forever homes.
Let’s meet them all.
56 Cats and Kittens
Rosie, Stormy, Jazz, Westie, Megatron, Moon, Killua, Oscar, Milo, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Lamine, Biscoff, Bourbon, Garcia, Torres, Buttercup, Ginge, Mimi, Oreo, Cucurella, Coco, Cadbury, Pino, Jessie, Buzz, Loki, Rex, Albert, Duke Caboom, Woody, Niko, Nala, Primrose, Cookie, Jammie, Windsor, Angel, Leroy, Stitch, Ivy, Marley, Fern, Rowan, Arlo, Stevie, Pipkin, Bigwig, Minoush, Nina, Lilo, Nero, Asparah, Daisy, and Cali & Tori.
Fifty-six. That is kitten season for you.
Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted the themed names again, and this month the kitten rooms really went for it. We had a litter of Transformers, a litter from Toy Story, a litter named after Spain’s World Cup winners, and a litter straight out of Watership Down. Then, for good measure, a Roman Emperor and, in what we are fairly sure is a first for the sanctuary, a historical Bulgarian Khan. If anyone on the team can explain how we got from Woody and Buzz to seventh-century Balkan royalty, we would love to hear it.
3 Dogs
Lemon the Lurcher, Bentley the Labrador and Wednesday the Staffy cross. Three very different dogs, three very happy new homes.
3 Rabbits
Alice, Wolfgang and Amie all hopped off to pastures new.
Sage’s Road to Recovery 💚
Following her recent operation to repair a fractured leg, Sage is currently on strict crate rest, and she is recovering beautifully.
Crate rest is not much fun for anyone, so the team have been giving her plenty of extra fuss and attention to help pass the time while her leg heals. She has been the model patient, and she is grateful for all the love and support from her fans over the past few weeks.
Once Sage has fully recovered, she will be looking for her forever home. She is a little cutie and will complete someone’s family.
Ivy’s Transformation: What a Difference a Few Months Make
Ivy arrived in our care with really bad skin. It was thickened, sore-looking, and she was scratching constantly.
After seeing a senior vet at The Hart Veterinary Centre in Bicester and Aylesbury, we started her on an intensive course of treatment: daily baths, medication and a specialist Z/D diet. Within a few weeks the difference was noticeable, and a few months on she is unrecognisable from the girl who first came through our gates.
The team have done a fabulous job helping this adorable lady regain her former glory. She is just the sweetest, and deserves nothing less than a home where she can be loved and cared for exactly as she should be.
Thank you to everyone involved in her care. 🥰
Welcome to Our First Business Sponsor
This month we are delighted to launch our business sponsorship programme, and even more delighted to welcome our very first business sponsor: Mark Hewitson Photography.
Mark is an award-winning pet portrait photographer working from a beautifully converted barn studio at Milton Common, just a few miles down the road from the sanctuary. He has been photographing Oxfordshire’s dogs and cats for well over a decade, and his portraits hang in homes across the county and beyond. In other words, exactly the kind of local business we are proud to have alongside us.
Business sponsorship is a straightforward way for local companies to support the animals in our care, with recognition on our website and in updates like this one. If you run a business and would like to find out more, take a look at our business sponsorship page.
Thank you, Mark. We are thrilled to have you on board.
Sorting Your Will, the Easy (and free) Way
It is one of those jobs that sits on the list for years. Did you know that 54% of UK adults still do not have a Will?
It is a topic most of us would rather avoid, but it is also one of the most important things you can do to protect the people you love. Writing a Will is far simpler than you might expect, and the peace of mind is real.
That is why we have partnered with Farewill, the UK’s No.1 specialist Will writers, to offer a free, straightforward Will-writing service.
There is no obligation to leave a gift to the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary. But if you choose to, your legacy will provide vital support for Oxfordshire’s vulnerable animals for years to come.
We deeply appreciate everything you already do for us.
Thank You
Every adoption and every donation counts, and together they give these animals their chance of a forever home.
Whether you have spent August on a beach, in the garden, or simply enjoying a slower pace of life, please know that your support is what keeps us going through all 365 days of the year.
If you would like to support our work, you can donate here.
From all of us, slightly dusty and very happy, at Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, thank you for your unwavering support.
🐾 The Team at Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary