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 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 the CEO 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. No acknowledgements have been shown by trustees.

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. YCR was clearly made aware of this. 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 the 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 legal 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.

8) YCR staff showed more concern over the cat not being neutered or chipped, rather than their supposedly flawed paperwork. Owners made clear that her chipping and checkup was scheduled. The vets had specifically asked for Billy's kittens to be weaned off for 2 weeks prior to being checked up.

9) In addition to the previous point (8), Billy (the cat), having been a first time mother, had swollen mammary glands. This is very normal thing in first time mothers, due to hormones. YCR too stated the normality of this in their now removed Facebook posts. We are highlighting this to ensure this cannot be misinterpreted as negligence or anything else.

10) YCR requested photos, videos, veterinary records and the pet related receipts to prove our ownership. After doing so, it was very much dismissed by their solicitors and we were told it's supposedly impossibe to return her due having removed her.  Despite having been told multiple times by staff that 'you signed her over' & 'she's no longer your cat', YCR Solicitors gave no attention to this supposed signed form.

11) Out of good faith, the owner(and those who now representing him) have offered to pay YCR for any and all costs towards their caring for the cat. 

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 legal owner, contains sections completed internally by rescue staff, and was handled by carers who held no authorisation to relinquish property. YCR have received all records, receipts photos etc. 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).

We ask YCR to give the exact reason behind the retention of the cat names Billy. Why has she been retained since April 2026? After becoming aware that the Legal owner was never present to sign any supposed form, why did YCR continue retaining this cat? And what is YCR supposedly adamant we keep this off social media?

We demand the immediate return of Billy (renamed Sorbet without consent) or arrangements of her return to be made immediately.