TRAFFORD’S Society for Abandoned Animals (SAA) is celebrating after receiving £30,000 from the grant giving animal charity, Support Adoption For Pets.

The sanctuary, based off Dane Road in Sale, has been awarded the cash by the independent animal charity to help fund the conversion of existing storage barns into a new cat re-homing and quarantine centre.

Upon completion the society will have enough space for 27 pens, and will be able to upgrade its current facilities to include a cattery, which will help raise ongoing funds.

SAA cares for and re-homes animals across Greater Manchester and in the past five years has successfully re-homed 123 dogs, 1,058 cats and 341 rabbits. The charity recently found itself struggling to keep up with the rising demand for re-homing cats and is in need of extra facilities to do so.

Since it was founded in 2006, Support Adoption For Pets has helped more than 920 rehoming centres and animal welfare organisations across the UK by awarding grants and running fundraising campaigns with the support of Pets at Home.

In addition to its fundraising work it also runs dedicated adoption centres in more than 350 Pets at Home stores.

Natasha Woest, sanctuary manager at SAA, said: “Over recent months we’ve received an incredibly high volume of calls to re-home cats. Unfortunately we don’t currently have the facilities to help them all, which is why we’ve been working to secure £80,000 of funding to help us convert several of the unused buildings at our Mosley Acre Farm home into a new cat re-homing facility.

“With the help of Support Adoption For Pets’ donation of £30,000, we are now well on our way to completing this important project and helping even more cats in the area.”

Amy Wilson, charity manager at Support Adoption For Pets added, “We were really pleased to be able to help Natasha and her team at the Society for Abandoned Animals. Its plans for a new cat rehoming centre are very exciting and will mean that the society is able to help even more pets to find new happy homes. ”

The cheque was presented at the rescue by colleagues from the Stockport Pets at Home store.

To find out more about Support Adoption For Pets or to support the charity visit www.supportadoptionforpets.co.uk.