I have a secret to share – I’ve gone back to school.

On Wednesday night, I enrolled on a Level 3 Diploma in Feline Care, Behaviour and Welfare via distance-learning from the Open College Network West Midlands.

I have to say, I’m pretty excited about it.

It’s been a long time since I graduated with a degree in Animal Behaviour from Aberystwyth University and, while I’ve kept my toes in the water through rescue and by writing a few environmental articles, I haven’t officially done anything with my degree since I left the U.K. in Autumn 2011.

Lately, this has been haunting me quite considerably, because if anywhere needs animal advocates it’s here, in Abruzzo. Things are getting better with the younger generations coming up, and even older people can have their minds changed – I’ve seen that within my own family! But for a long time, I’ve felt like I could, and should, be doing so much more.

So, this is the beginning of the realisation of a huge dream of mine. When I was in uni, I was determined to one day open a rescue in southern Spain. Well, the location may have changed, but the dream hasn’t. Once I finish this diploma, I intend to do another one on Kennel and Cattery management in the hope that, when all the different parts come together at the right time and place, I will be able to open a cattery-supported cat-sanctuary here in Abruzzo.

Because the need is great here.

There are no real cat sanctuaries here in this area, everything is done through fosters with spare bathrooms who, while having the biggest hearts and best intentions, are not best-placed to care for special needs cats. If I hadn’t taken her, Boscaiola would have been sent to an association for disabled cats in the North of Italy – a huge distressing event for a cat in her situation. Not only that, but a couple of months ago, that particular charity lost the lease on their place and struggled to find a new place to go, desperately seeking short-term fosters for their special needs cats.

I don’t want things to be this way. Not when there’s a better option.

Let’s build a real sanctuary offering life-long care for cats like Boscaiola. A safe place full of love and everything they need. Who’s with me?