Animals who haven’t had the best start in life have had some happy endings this year, thanks to the work of caring volunteers, and the KM.

Every week, we feature an animal looking for a new start in life, through the RSPCA’s Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Leybourne centres.

Some of our furry friends have even managed to settle into their new homes in time for Christmas.

Staff and volunteers at the Maidstone branch, which runs a cattery in Headcorn, were particularly delighted when a seven-year-old staffie they saved from death row was rehomed.

Friendly fellow Norman had been in kennels for some months after the charity rescued him.
As he did not like other dogs, it made rehoming him more difficult. We featured his story in August and again in October - and the following month he met his match. He now lives with his doting owner Michelle meant he got to be in his forever home for Christmas.

In June, we featured Sooty, a three-year-old cat, who came to the cattery in February after her beloved owner had had to go into a care home.

Black cats are notoriously difficult to rehome, but good things come to those who wait. Sooty found a home with Janice Crittenden in Coxheath.

“A match made in heaven and a really happy ending,” a spokesman for the branch described them as.

In September we featured a pair that really wanted to be together.

Two-year-olds Jake, a black and white cat, and George, a tabby and white, were rather shy with people but bonded with each other. They had come to the cattery in May and were rehomed recently to the Hepburn household in East Farleigh where they are making themselves firmly at home.

Lucy, a big mastiff staffie cross with a personality to match, was featured in August. Because of her size she needed to go to a home with older children, and required plenty of exercise and further training.

She found love with the Hyndman family, who live in Barming, in October.

A branch spokesman said: “It gives us enormous pleasure that these and around 200 other beautiful animals have found loving homes this year. We would like to thank the KM for the huge amount of support they have given throughout the year with publicity which in turn has helped greatly towards finding the right, loving home for our pets, and everyone who supports us.”

If you’d like to rehome an animal, contact the Maidstone branch on 01622 891222 or Leybourne on 03301 230751.