Pledges: Cats & Dogs
#1 in a new series!
I’m being asked for my opinions on a huge range of topics. It can feel quite overwhelming, as the emails seem to come in faster than I can reply! And as a self-employed person who needs to also be doing a full day’s work to pay the council tax and mortgage, I need to find a balance between dealing with candidate correspondence, and my own work.
MPs get a huge self-chosen salary, and have assistants, so aren’t trying to do it with zero budget and a need to earn some pennies! So if I got elected, my situation would be completely different.
“The basic annual salary for an MP from 1 April 2024 is £91,346. MPs also receive expenses to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, having somewhere to live in London or their constituency, and travelling between Parliament and their constituency.” Source.
As an aside, that seems extortionately high when so many people are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. I’d happily vote to lower MP salaries if I was elected, and give to good causes every month until that point.
Anyway, I’ve decided that when I reply to some of the pledge-type emails I will include them in these newsletter posts. Not only does that mean I can point to my answers when the next person asks, but it also gives everyone more of a view of what I am about as a candidate, and who I am as a person.
Pledge: Cats and Dogs
The email:
Dear Karl Drinkwater,
I’m emailing on behalf of Cats Protection, the UK's largest cat welfare charity, to share The Cat Manifesto. This is the definitive guide to the steps needed to improve the lives of cats, both in legislation and wider society.
Animal welfare is an important issue for millions of voters and cats are one of the nation's favourite pets, owned by one in four households across the UK.
Sadly, many cats continue to be victims of cruelty, neglect and poor welfare. Action is needed to make sure they are protected.
This manifesto covers topics such as the need for:
cat breeding regulations to protect the welfare of cats and kittens
increased availability of pet-friendly rented housing
action to stop kitten smuggling
You can view the full manifesto at cats.org.uk/manifesto
We would be extremely grateful if you would consider pledging to speak up for cats if elected to the next Parliament.
My thoughts:
I am owned by a tortie named Dolly who turned up on my step as a kitten and then adopted me. I mentioned her in the opening of my most recent campaign post.
I’m also an author and regularly feature her in my newsletters, e.g.:
My background is animal welfare, so I care hugely about cats, dogs and every other organism that graces humans with its presence. :-) I even volunteered at an animal sanctuary where one of my jobs was looking after the cats.
I support most of the things requested anyway. For example, I’ve always campaigned against fireworks: wasteful, and terrifying to cats, dogs, and wildlife. There were a few items I was less sure about, but that’s just because I’ve never heard of cat yoga, for example. Dolly likes to lie under me when I do press ups, or behind me to block sit ups, so taking part in human exercise is a fun game for her!
Personally, I’d be interested in uniting dog and cat charities as so many goals are similar. e.g.
“Introduce cat breeding regulations”
There should be stricter regulations, for both dogs and cats.
“Ban the breeding of cats with extreme characteristics which cause pain and suffering”
Ditto dogs. The arguments would have even more force when it applies to both dogs and cats. It’s great for charities to work together for common goals and even greater impact.
“Recognise cats as family”
That also spoke to me. Dolly isn’t a pet. She’s not even a companion animal (since that is still hierarchical, and defines her by her utility to me). She is just seen as an equal member of the family. She’s an adult with her own needs and personality. And she is my best friend. :-)
Promoted by Karl Drinkwater (Green Party) at The Gate, Keppoch Street, Cardiff CF24 3JW.
I support Cats Protection. I also have three Cats as number 3 was a slightly funny looking kitten, so people said anyhow, and no-one wanted her. She grew up to be gorgeous but I’d have loved her whatever she looked like, as I love all wild life, which is why I was a Vegetarian in Uni and then became a Vegan.