Animal welfare centre, The Blue Cross, looks after cats, dogs, birds and any other abandoned animals. VICTORIA BIRCH speaks to the unsung heroes who take them in and make their lives worth living again.

IT CAN be a cruel world, and animals often get the brunt of it.

Many are forgotten, abused, mistreated or just dumped. But the Blue Cross, in Grassingham End, Chalfont St Peter, is a safe haven for animals who need a new home.

At the moment, they are trying to rehome 35 cats, a small collection of rabbits, goats and rats.

The centre tries to find new owners for its animals but will look after them even if they can not be rehomed.

Lindsay Weeks, a receptionist at the centre, said people heartlessly leave cats and other animals on their doorstep.

She said: "One cat was sat in a box for three hours before we found him. Two degus (rat-like creature from South America) were left in a box and we had to find out more information about them. We went on the internet and had an idea what they were but we had to confirm it. We are trying our best to put them in an environment they are happy in."

She added: "There are other horrible stories but we try to block them out and you forget them over time. One cat had been with its dead owner for three days until someone found it sleeping next to its owner. A neighbour bought it in."

Mrs Weeks said there were many reasons why people gave up their pets.

One cat was given to them as the owner had got a new one, another ended there as it did not get on with the dog.

"Some people are quite cruel and cold, but it's a hard decision giving up an animal," she added.

Cats given to the centre are made to feel as they are in their own home.

They have cat beds, their own pen and an adventure course with toys.

Mrs Weeks said: "I think the work we do here is to give the cats a good time as possible. We put classical music on for the cats. The girls who work here like Kiss FM, but we put on the talk stations for them."

If kittens are born in the cattery, the staff have to make sure they understand what the outside world is like. They play noises and wear different colour clothes when going in to see the kittens.

She said: "Kittens are like babies and you have to get someone to watch over them. We make sure kittens have noise in the background such as thunderstorms and hoover noises. We don't want them to be under-socialised.

"They get used to our blue uniforms and so the behaviourist comes in and wears bright clothes for them to get used to different colours. But kittens and mum cats go very quickly. The longest time a cat has been here is for two years."

The centre is looking for more funds so they can rebuild the site to provide an even better environment for the animals

Mrs Weeks said: "It's a very satisfactory environment and until it is rebuilt (the centre) we try to make use of it as best as we can. We have to wait for Blue Cross to get funds together for rebuilding, and it is not cheap."

Although it is not important to have specific qualifications to work at the Blue Cross it is an essential part of the job to love animals.

Mrs Weeks said: "I worked in a vet's before I came here, as a veterinary nurse. We all have different backgrounds and interests when it comes to animals.

"It is very hard not to get attached to the cats, and it is inevitable to have favourites. I have only one cat (at home) and she is a cantankerous old cow and wouldn't like other cats coming in. We have all adopted from here. You try not to, but you do get your favourites."

She added: "We visit homes to make sure it is stable for them, and we want it to go home and for it to be permanent. We go a 25 mile radius but if it's worth it to go further, we will do it. We go to see people and make sure it is a suitable tp house the animals. For some cats it is important they are not on a main road they are quick and can escape. We will then suggest another cat."

The centre relies on donations to keep it going and to feed the animals. Generally the cats eat half a tin of food a day but overweight cats have special food.

Mrs Weeks said: "Della, well she needs a quiet home. She weighs seven kilos, she is a very big girl. We had to put her on a diet. The vet checked her out and she is healthy but people don't want her if she is too big."

"We do take in the odd dog for rehoming in special cases but it is not good for dogs. We also take rabbits and have three, but we can have 12.

"Some rabbits were here for a year plus, but they have now been homed. I think it is because during the spring people think of baby bunnies."

If you would like some more information, or to donate money, contact the centre on 01753 882560.