When a sudden emergency hit our family (16/04/26), we turned to Yorkshire Cat Rescue (Keighley) to request temporary care for our cat, Billy, as there was no one available to look after her.  Staff supposedly agreed to help, and she was dropped off by carers (with what they assumed was a clear agreement that we would return to pick her up). No surrender document was ever signed and no intention of surrendering ever shown. However, without understanding the nature of the form, they did placed their name and email (no cat details filled, no signiture). This was done entirely for contact purposes, as this is what staff directed towards.

The next day (17/04/26), when we called for an update (checking if she settled well) but staff shockingly claimed Billy was no longer our cat. We immediately went to the rescue with a carrier to collect her, but again, we were repeatedly told 'she's no longer your cat', yet staff could not present the physical surrender form and relied on a poor quality photo. In their words, it was shredded for GDPR purposes (withint 24 hours). Still No Signature. Despite attempting to resolve this misunderstanding, the supposed CEO Lynn Nicholls threatened to call the police, stating we'd be arrested. We again tried to explain the very clear misunderstanding but had no luck. Still no signed relinquishment form or intended surrender. A clear misunderstanding. We left after the repeated threats of police, the verbal aggression shown by Lynn and being told we are no longer permitted on their property in the future.

Despite months of consistent emails requesting them to return our cat in good faith,  Yorkshire Cat Rescue (keighley) still refuses (till date) to return her without any signed relinquishment form. 

Note that the individuals who dropped our cat off at the YCR premises, were not the legal owners, had no authority to legally surrender the cat, were not given this authority by the legal owner and never claimed to be the legal owners of the cat. The Rescue staff did fill the form (without anybody's consent/ presence) ticking off that the name presented on the form was the owner. (This was not the case). This practice of filling forms themselves, confirmed by YCR CEO to be normal, gives the impression that the individuals who dropped off the cat presented themselves as owners. This is entirely incorrect.

Our cat was publicy shown on their Facebook page and renamed Sorbet, without consent. After addressing this via email, YCR swifty removed these posts. Why had YCR removed posts if they believe to be abiding by their standards?

Yorkshire Cat Rescue is a registered member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH), an organisation built on integrity, transparency, and high welfare standards. By taking advantage of a family emergency, completing relinquishment forms internally without consent, ignoring data protection laws (SARs), and refusing to return a pet to its registered owner, YCR has failed to uphold both ADCH standards and its own advertised core values of Trust and Respect.

This is a registered charity funded by public donations. Supporter funds should be used to provide medical treatment and care for animals in genuine need, not wasted on administrative disputes, legal threats, and withholding a pet from its rightful home due to staff error.

Our stance.

1) We never intended nor showed any intention of relinquishing our cat. (A prior email asking for temporary care & lack of signed relinquishment form proves this)

2) the legal owner was not aware/ present when dropping the cat off to YCR, due to being unwell. (No signature from LEGAL owner)

3) Even if the individuals did sign the form (which they did not), they had no authority to sign off another's property, immediately entering a pool of legal issues. 

4) The individuals, who dropped off the cat, did place their name and email on the form without understanding it was a relinquishment form. An intention and action that does not align. There was no meeting of minds in regard to surrender.

5) Individuals, who dropped off the cat, did discuss the journeys of other cats (upon seeing them). A few (who were having their eyes removed) were mentioned to soon 'go home'. This further added to the assumption that YCR provided temporary care.

6) YCR supposed staff never corrected this lack of understanding, when dropping off the cat. This further supports that there was no meeting of the minds. No valid relinquishment.

7) Yorkshire Cat Rescue has failed to respond to a formal Subject Access Request (SAR) submitted in April 2026, withholding internal records and communications in breach of UK data protection laws.

It is *our position* that the relinquishment form relied upon by Yorkshire Cat Rescue does not constitute a valid surrender: it bears no signature from the registered legal owner, contains sections completed internally by rescue staff, and was handled by carers who held no authorisation to relinquish property. Furthermore, despite ongoing ownership disputes, an unanswered Subject Access Request, and prior assurances that Billy would be kept safe while this situation was investigated, YCR has recently stated through solicitors that she has been rehomed. Proceeding to rehome a pet under these disputed circumstances raises serious concerns regarding administrative transparency, data protection compliance, and the organisational standards expected of an ADCH member charity.

Our Demands:

We demand an internal review by the Board of Trustees into intake and relinquishment procedures to ensure staff do not complete surrender paperwork without verified owner consent or legal authority.

We call on Yorkshire Cat Rescue to honor its commitment to ADCH standards by resolving property disputes transparently rather than relying on flawed administrative documentation.

We demand immediate compliance with the Subject Access Request (SAR) submitted in April, providing full disclosure of all internal notes, correspondence, and records related to Billy (now renamed Sorbet without owner consent).