JELD-WEN strays rehomed

Doorset manufacturer JELD-WEN has supported the rescue and rehoming of a group of stray cats found at its Retford Road manufacturing site, in partnership with local animal welfare charity Save A Stray.

As preparations began for the relocation of manufacturing operations to Bessemer Park, concerns grew over what would happen to local stray “Timber”, a familiar face at the site, once the JELD-WEN employees moved.

This concern escalated in March when a litter of kittens were discovered in on-site containers.

The site reached out to local charity Save A Stray, JELD-WEN and discovered that the litters mother, described as ‘a stealthy white ninja’ by employees, had been hiding the litter around the site and sneaking in for food after Timber had eaten.

Thanks to the dedication of employees and rescue volunteers, all kittens were eventually found, vaccinated, and placed into foster care through Save a Stray, where they are now awaiting rehoming in pairs. Timber has since been neutered, treated for an injured paw and successfully adopted by a new family.

Claire Green, executive assistant at JELD-WEN, added: “We’re really pleased to have worked with Save a Stray to ensure that all the cats at our Retford Road site were safely cared for as we prepare to relocate. What started as colleagues feeding a stray cat ended up becoming a team effort with a local charity to successfully rescue a whole litter of feline friends! We’re delighted that we’ve helped have a positive impact on these cats’ lives.”

With no cat left behind, JELD-WEN will relocate its operations this summer to a new purpose-built facility, where the manufacturer will continue to support local biodiversity.