Pet owners forbidden to return home after work to collect pets after dam collapse

Whaley Bridge dam collapse

Whaley Bridge dam collapse

The recent excessive rains in various parts of England have created a crisis in Whaley Bridge in the High Peak District of Derbyshire in the north.

Animal Search UK at Whaley Bridge

Animal Search UK at Whaley Bridge. Picture: Animal Search/Twitter.

Above Whaley Bridge is a dam which creates the Toodbrook Resevoir. Part of its structure has collapsed. It is feared that the damn will totally collapse and flood Whaley Bridge a town of 6,500 residents.

Residents have been told to vacate the town and surrounding area but those who work out of town have been told that cannot return for their own safety. They cannot collect their cats and dogs. I find the order forbidding their return to be strange and I believe it is a bad decision. Update: a few hours after posting this article I have learned from the Guardian website that residents have been allowed 15 minutes to retrieve their cats and dogs.

Animal Search UK warning notice

Animal Search UK warning notice

Clearly there will be a lot of anxiety by many residents concerned for the safety of their cats and dogs. A charity, Animal Search UK has stepped in to save the animals and reunite them with the owners. But this is a huge complication because if cats and dogs are at home and the home is locked how will they recover the animals?

Of course most of the cats will be inside and outside these homes as they are inside/outside cats. The rescue organisation will be hard pressed to find some of them. If their owners are forbidden from returning to their homes for several days an emergency might arise because of a lack of food. The cats will have to rely on their hunting skills. But this is a less than sensible arrangement I would suggest.

Animal Search UK has used the emergency to promote their charity. They rely on donations.

Useful tag. Click to see the articles: Cat behavior

Note: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified.
Useful links
Anxiety - reduce it
FULL Maine Coon guide - lots of pages
Children and cats - important

Michael Broad

Hi, I'm a 74-year-old retired solicitor (attorney in the US). Before qualifying I worked in many jobs including professional photography. I love nature, cats and all animals. I am concerned about their welfare. If you want to read more click here.

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