UKRCC News Updates

7th March 2011

We regularly receive enquiries asking for information about what the UKRCC is doing now and what the future holds. Although we have taken the decision not to share specific information via the website anymore, we thought we would update on general UKRCC news, for those wishing to keep up to date.

For newcomers to the UKRCC, a quick history lesson. Back in March 2004 the UKRCC was launched as an online community and resource for Ragdoll owners, offering breed and welfare information, along with a forum for owners to share stories and experiences and generally chat ‘Raggies’, with other Ragdoll fans. Seven years on the website continues to provide impartial, valuable information for owners and would-be owners and remains as popular as ever with over 1000 unique hits every week.

The rehoming element of the UKRCC was actually coincidental, rather than intentional, but for 5 years and with the help of a handful of dedicated volunteers, the charity worked UK wide, to assist owners in finding new homes for Ragdolls they could no longer keep and rescuing Ragdolls in poor circumstances, rehabilitating them and then finding suitable new homes. Over that time the UKRCC successfully rehomed upwards of 600 Ragdolls and other cats. In 2009 a set of circumstances arose which led to change at the UKRCC and the charity had to step away from welfare work for a while. Although no new adoptions were arranged, the UKRCC remained committed to all cats which were still in foster care and to all those which were rehomed through the charity and this continues to be the case.

Today the UKRCC is dedicated to maintaining and developing the website as a resource for any person researching the Ragdoll breed, as, in our view, providing accurate, impartial information about Ragdoll care, is the first step to ensuring responsible, lifelong ownership and reducing the likelihood of rehoming further down the line.

The UKRCC continues to support Ragdoll owners, with priority given to those who adopted via the charity. Furthermore we resumed welfare work several months ago, albeit on a smaller scale then before, carrying out rescue and rehoming at a more local level, with referrals from local vets and local catteries and rescues and with adoptions being arranged in the South Midlands only. We currently have two Ragdolls in UKRCC foster care who are undergoing rehabilitation, in preparation for new families, who are waiting.

So the UKRCC goes on. We have chosen to work more privately and quietly than before, to protect the charity, but we are fully focussed on the job in hand and the charity remains dedicated to the welfare of the beloved Ragdoll breed and to advising and informing owners. Following events in 2009, the UKRCC lost the majority of its support and volunteers, but our heartfelt thanks must go to the few who have continued to support us with offers of help and/or donations, as without them the UKRCC could not continue. So, thank you all.