International Women’s Day – four of the female charity workers championing animal welfare
From helping victim-survivors flee domestic abuse to lobbying politicians to change animal welfare law – Cats Protection is using International Women's Day to celebrate its inspirational female staff.
The charity owes its very existence to women – set up in 1927 by suffragist Jessey Wade, an animal lover and noted women's rights campaigner, who also edited the feminist journal Urania.
Since then, the charity has grown into one of the UK's biggest animal charities, and its work includes campaigning for changes in the law to protect pets, leading veterinary feline medicine research, rehoming cats, and offering services to help renters with pets, domestic abuse victim-survivors and grieving owners.
Some of the inspirational women following in Jessey Wade's footsteps today are:
Madison Rogers, 29, Head of Campaigns, Advocacy & Government Relations
Leading the charity's campaigning team, Madison, 29, spends her days meeting politicians, drafting briefings for parliamentary committees and lobbying for changes in law on animal welfare issues. Despite being interested in politics from an early age, she says it hasn't always been easy to be a woman – particularly in her 20s - in public affairs. Having led some of the charity's most high profile campaigns to change welfare legislation, she also works to help other women get on the ladder and is an advisor on the Senior Women in Public Affairs (WiPA) Committee. She says: "Politics is a male dominated industry and it can be hard for women to get their voices heard. I have been to meetings or events where I am the only women in the room, which can be daunting. To overcome this I remind myself that I am there because I deserve to be. This experience has also made me want to be a positive role model in my career and in my role as a leader at Cats Protection I actively encourage participation through creating safe and supportive networks where others feel able to have their voices heard and valued."
Amy Hyde, 33, Manager of Cats Protection's Lifeline service
Amy heads the Cats Protection Lifeline service, which provides free and confidential fostering service for owners fleeing domestic abuse. With most refuges unable to accept pets, it is feared many victim-survivors may find it harder to escape domestic abuse for fear of what may happen to their pet. With the charity's Lifeline service, cats are cared for in a home environment allowing their owners to seek help to escape and settle into a safe new home. Amy says: "Domestic abuse is incredibly common in the UK and sadly it will likely touch many of us directly, or perhaps our friends and family. It can of course happen to anyone, of any age, gender or background. I have been working within domestic abuse pet fostering services for over 11 years now and during this time we have seen many challenging cases that involve abuse to both people and animals. What makes it easier for me is knowing that there is support available for both the survivor and their pet, and that it will only be a matter of time before they are safely reunited again. Our Lifeline team is also made up of so many inspirational women who go above and beyond every single day, doing as much as they possibly can to support survivors, cats and our incredible foster carers. Working within this amazing team and seeing so many reunions makes everything worthwhile. International Women's Day for me is about celebrating and recognising the power of women – we support women everyday who show the greatest amount of strength and courage in the most difficult situations, as well as our colleagues in the domestic abuse sector who dedicate their lives to ending violence against women and girls. We also have an incredible group of foster carers who open up their homes and hearts to cats in need, knowing one day that they will be reunited with their loving owner. International Women's Day, for me, is a time to recognise these women and the progress that has already been made, whilst still driving towards a safer and more inclusive world for women."
Sue Ben-Saud, 57, Manager of Cats Protection Bridgend Adoption Centre
Sue has been the manager of the charity's largest centre in Wales for over 25 years and is known for her limitless energy and upbeat attitude. What many people don't realise, however, is that she has also fought a battle with bowel cancer and is now living with incurable blood cancer. Throughout it all, her job in helping cats has helped her cope – even when her treatment meant she couldn't leave her home. Sue says: "After starting treatment I was fortunate to be able to start working from home. It wouldn't be right for everybody, but it was normal for me and even when I had my last cancer I returned as soon as possible for the sense of normality. I love my job and so we did a lot using technology, for example I took part in vet runs via WhatsApp. The average remission is four years, but the reality of my life now is realising what further damage myeloma will do in the future. When you're living it, you don't think about it, but sometimes it just hits you and you break down. It's always on your mind, the 'what ifs' are always there. I'd like to think I have another 10 years but realistically I may not. I take each day as it comes and celebrate the good days when I can. I've gone from doing half marathons to struggling to just do a short trip or walk down the stairs on some days. It's really hard – my daughter sometimes has to remind me to take it easy! A pain specialist once said 'you have to take your pain and put it in your pocket' and I try to live by that. I had to adjust to being a new person after my first cancer and have had to do it again. I am very grateful to be alive and although I recognise my life is limited, I try not to dwell on it. I don't want to be at home avoiding things or closeting myself away to avoid potential infections. I hope my story inspires other women on International Women's Day to realise that we all have a reserve of inner strength which helps us to cope in time of adversity and whatever your circumstances are I would urge you to go after their dreams and what makes you happy in life."
Elle Boden, 32, Behaviour Officer.
After training as a veterinary nurse, Elle was driven by her interest in psychology and love of animals to specialise in animal behaviour. She set up her own business helping cat owners deal with behavioural concerns before joining Cats Protection. She said: "I've always been fascinated with psychology and from a young age I was surrounded by animals, so my job is a dream come true. I love being part of a charity which is working to change how we think about cats – challenging the assumptions that all cats are aloof, or that they are independent and don't need the same level of care as other pets. I work in a female dominated industry, both in veterinary nursing and now as a behaviourist, so competition is high between women. However, I think a major challenge has been being a mother and taking time out to have children, along with juggling the two roles, which can all leave you feeling left behind. Priorities shift after having children, but it shouldn't mean that you cannot continue to further your career. The progress to where you want to get to may be slower but that shouldn't deter us from reaching our ambitions and career goals. It is so important to celebrate women, whether that be professionally or personally and reflect on how much women have contributed to society and science I think International Women's Day is also a time for reflection on your own journey and how far you have come. Every woman should be regularly reflecting and giving themselves an enormous pat on the back at everything they have achieved."
To find out more about the work of Cats Protection, please visit www.cats.org.uk
