celia hammond animal trust
Animal Rescue Charity
Celia Hammond Animal Trust is a unique non destruction charity providing essential low cost veterinary services for sick and injured pets as well as a rescue and homing service for unwanted, abandoned and stray cats in London and the South East.
Please help us build a dedicated rescue and rehoming centre, and secure the future of our Lewisham hub for decades to come
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A NEW RESCUE AND REHOMING CENTRE IN LEWISHAM
In October 2023, we were granted planning permission to redevelop the Friendly Street warehouse and former shop at the rear of our Lewisham site into a new rescue and rehoming centre.
Phases 1 and 2A of the project have been funded by legacy gifts. Phase 1 of the building works has already been completed and phase 2A works are to commence shortly. We are now fundraising to pay for phase 2B, the construction of the main two-storey building, and we really need your support in funding the next stage of this project.
Please donate whatever you can afford and help us continue caring for animals who need us most.
Celia Hammond Animal Trust
OFFICIAL PAGE Celia Hammond Animal Trust, UK. We rescue rehabilitate and re-home abandoned animals.
📦 Abandoned in a cardboard box 📦
On the 18th July, someone opened the doors to our Canning Town reception and placed a cardboard box inside, then walked straight back out without saying a word.
At first, we thought it was a donation, but looking back, we should have known better!
When our receptionist opened the box, staring back at her were two bewildered cats.
Sam and Neil, as they've now been named, must have been wondering what on earth was happening. Taken from everything familiar and placed inside a cardboard box, they were suddenly faced with a strange new environment, unfamiliar people and the sights and smells of a veterinary practice.
Estimated to be around two years old, these boys have no idea why they were left behind or why their world suddenly changed.
Nearly three weeks on and their personalities have started to emerge.
Sam is completely deaf but he doesn’t let that stop him! He’s playful, full of energy and still acts like a kitten.
Neil is partially sighted and a much quieter boy. The stress of everything he’s been through has left him feeling overwhelmed, so he often prefers the comfort of his bed. With time, patience and love, we’re sure his confidence will grow.
Although Sam and Neil arrived together, we are not certain that they are friends or related, as we have noticed signs of tension and their interactions suggest they don’t feel comfortable in each other’s company.
While we always do our very best to keep cats together when they arrive with us in pairs or family groups and on most occasions this is absolutely the right decision, we also have to carefully consider the individual needs and happiness of each cat.
After careful consideration, we genuinely feel that Sam and Neil would be happier and more settled if they were homed separately, allowing each of them to have the space, care and environment that best suits their own personality and needs.
Could you be the one to give one of these lovely boys the fresh start they deserve?
If you’re interested in adopting Sam or Neil, please get in touch with our team by email:
📧helloadoptions@celiahammond.org
Please share to help these deserving boys find the loving homes they’ve been waiting for. 🐾
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Do you recognise this cat? 🐱
This lovely girl came into our care at the end of July after being handed in to our Lewisham clinic as a stray.
The people who brought her to the clinic left very quickly without providing any contact details, so we have no information about where she came from or how she came to be alone. Because of the circumstances, we are concerned that she may have been abandoned at the clinic, but we are keeping an open mind while we try to establish her history.
She is microchipped, but unfortunately the details haven’t been updated since her previous owner, who has told us that they rehomed her around a year ago. We’re checking every possibility to find out whether she is a missing cat or if she has been abandoned and needs our help.
From what we can tell, she has been well cared for, is well fed and she is a friendly girl with a sweet nature. 🐾
Does anyone recognise this cat? Do you know anything about her history or where she may have come from?
If you have any information, please get in touch with our Lewisham team at lewisham@celiahammond.org
Please share to help her story reach the right person.
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A wonderful afternoon was had yesterday at Canning Town’s special Volunteer Afternoon, celebrating the people behind the scenes! It is always a pleasure bringing together some of our incredible volunteers to thank them for the time, care, compassion and unwavering support they give to the cats in our care every single day.
Whether they’re caring for cats, supporting our clinics and rescue centres or giving their time in countless other ways, their dedication makes an enormous difference to the lives of so many cats and it was lovely to celebrate everything they do!
A special thank you to both Sarah Mazdon, our volunteer coordinator and Cindy, one of our fab Animal Care Assistants, for their help in planning the afternoon and to Kat for kindly bringing thoughtful gifts for our volunteers.
To every one of our volunteers – thank you for being such an important part of the Celia Hammond Animal Trust. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you. 💙🐾
#celiahammondanimaltrust
#volunteerappreciation
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✨ Introducing our new Cover Star of the Month! ✨
Before dedicating her life to rescuing cats, Celia Hammond was one of Britain’s best-known fashion models, gracing the covers of magazines such as Vogue throughout the 1960s.
Inspired by that history, we’re giving our Facebook cover photo a new purpose.
Each month, we’ll shine a spotlight on one very special cat looking for a forever home. Our Cover Star of the Month will take pride of place on our Facebook page, helping more people discover their story and helping them find the loving home they deserve.
Our very first Cover Star is Selma. 🧡
With her little bobtail, bright ginger coat and joyful personality, Selma is impossible not to fall in love with. Every day she reminds us that even after the hardest start in life, happiness can still be found.
Selma was rescued alongside 16 other cats after their owner fled a violent situation, leaving them trapped inside a property. Although food and water had been left behind, it soon ran out. Tragically, 3 of the cats had already died by the time help arrived. The surviving cats were discovered just in time. Living in heartbreaking conditions, they were severely underweight and desperately needed veterinary treatment, care and plenty of love.
Selma also arrived with deformities to her spine and tail. As her tail was paralysed and at risk of further injury, our vets made the decision to amputate it. Today, she is completely pain-free and, apart from her adorable little bobtail and slightly wonky walk, you would never know everything she has overcome.
Now living at our Greenacres Sanctuary, Selma embraces every single day with endless enthusiasm. She delights in everything life has to offer, from warm, fluffy beds and tasty dinners to gentle fuss from her favourite people. She has a wonderfully cheeky personality and can often be found curled up asleep in the most unexpected places or exploring the other cats’ chalets.
Above all, Selma loves to play. Her favourite toy is a little purple ball with a bell inside, which she proudly carries around in her mouth. She’ll often drop it down the steps just so she can chase after it again, looking as though she’s having the best time in the world.
Selma isn’t looking for a new home, but she is looking for sponsors. By sponsoring Selma, you’ll help provide the specialist care she and the other permanent residents at Greenacres need, ensuring they can continue to enjoy the safe, happy lives they so richly deserve.
You can sponsor Selma using the link in our bio or in the comments! 🐾 ... See MoreSee Less
We genuinely can’t believe Hazel and Iris are still waiting for their first adoption application. 🥹
Hazel came into our care as a stray with her three tiny kittens, who were just one week old. Thanks to the kindness of a member of the public and the dedication of one of our wonderful foster homes, this little family was given the safe start they deserved.
Two of Iris’ siblings have already found a loving home together, and now it’s Hazel and Iris’ turn. 🐾
This beautiful mum and daughter share a special bond, so we’re looking for a forever home where they can stay together. In return, they’ll bring double the purrs, double the companionship and double the love.
Hazel and Iris are looking for a home with a garden and would be happy in a family home or with older children.
Could you be the person who gives this gorgeous pair their happy ending?
📧 Email our homing team at lewisham@celiahammond.org
Alternatively, come and meet them at one of our Lewisham open days, held every Saturday and Sunday from 1–5pm.
If you can’t adopt, please share their story — you never know who might be looking for the perfect pair. 💙🐱
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🐾 Happy Adoption Thursday 🐾
"We adopted Merry and Pippin (formerly Bean and Todd) from Canning Town in 2024 and it was one of the best decisions we have ever made. It’s been so exciting to see them become more and more comfortable in their new home and to see their personalities shine through.
Every morning we are woken up by their purring and trilling, and on sunny days we enjoy watching them run around and sunbathe in our secured garden.
We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to give them a warm and loving home ❤️." - Ana
It is always so special to read about how happy and content our cats are when they settle into their new homes and the joy they bring to their new owners.
➡️Have you adopted from Celia Hammond Animal Trust? We’d love to hear from you! Send your photos via DM using the words “HAPPY ADOPTION” to share your update. 🐾 💙
#rescuecat #happyadoptionthursday #celiahammondanimaltrust #adoptdontshop #happyadoption #cat #foreverhome ... See MoreSee Less
🌡️The heatwave is tough on animals, especially those who don’t have anywhere cool to escape it.
A shallow bowl of fresh water left in the shade can make a huge difference to thirsty stray cats, birds, hedgehogs and other wildlife.
Here are three simple ways to help:
💧 Leave out water in a heavy, shallow bowl so it doesn’t tip easily (ceramics bowls stay cooler for longer). Change the water at least once a day so it stays fresh and safe
🌳 Place it somewhere cool and shaded
🥣 Add extra moisture to wet food if you’re feeding stray cats outdoors
⚠️ Watch for signs of heatstroke: excessive panting, drooling, vomiting, lethargy, and difficulty walking. If you suspect heatstroke, contact a vet immediately.
Kindness is free. A bowl of water takes seconds to put out, but it could save the life of a stray cat or help a wild animal through the hottest days of the year.
#celiahammondanimaltrust #leavewateroutforanimals #keepcatscool ... See MoreSee Less
Behind every cat we save is a veterinary team working tirelessly to make it possible. But right now, we need more vets and veterinary nurses.
Every day, we receive heartbreaking calls from people desperate for help with treatment or surgery for their cats. Many have nowhere else to turn and are hoping we can step in.
We wish we could help them all, but the demand for our services has never been greater.
The reality is that our small veterinary teams at Lewisham and Canning Town are already working at full capacity, caring for the huge number of abandoned, stray and injured cats that come through our doors every single day.
That’s why we’re urgently looking to recruit more veterinary professionals to join the Celia Hammond Animal Trust.
Working with us is unlike any other veterinary role. Every day, you’ll make a genuine difference to the lives of vulnerable cats, working alongside a passionate team dedicated to improving feline welfare. It can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
If you’re a vet looking for a new opportunity, or you know someone who is, we’d love to hear from you.
Please click on the link in the comment ➡️to apply! If this role isn't for you, sharing this post could help us reach the veterinary professional who'll help save the next cat in need. 💙
#celiahammondanimaltrust #veterinaryjobs #veterinarysurgeon #veterinarynurse ... See MoreSee Less
💙 Because of you, we’ve raised £4,441.35! 💙
Thank you to everyone who celebrated Celia’s birthday by donating to the animals she has dedicated her life to rescuing.
Because of your incredible generosity, we’ll be purchasing both our new EPOC machine and oxygen concentrator this week - two vital pieces of equipment that will help us provide lifesaving care to countless animals for years to come.
Every extra pound raised will go directly towards the cats and kittens in our care. It will help provide food, enrichment, toys and all the little comforts that make such a difference while they wait for loving homes.
Celia was truly touched by your kindness, and knowing that so many people chose to celebrate her birthday by supporting this appeal was the greatest gift she could’ve asked for.
If you’d still like to make a birthday donation, there’s still time. Every gift, no matter the size, will help us continue rescuing, treating and caring for cats and kittens in need.
From all of us - especially Celia - thank you for making this birthday so special. 🐾
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