CHARITY DONATIONS
West Ham donate to nine animal welfare charities after docking Kurt Zouma £250k in wages for sick cat-kick video
WEST HAM have made financial donations to NINE animal welfare charities.
The news comes with Hammers defender Kurt Zouma set to be prosecuted by the RSPCA after a video emerged last month of him abusing his pet cat.
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The east London club has received huge backlash for the way it has dealt with Zouma.
Despite fining the Frenchman the full amount of £250k, West Ham are yet to drop him from the playing squad since the video emerged on February 7.
Boss David Moyes has remained consistent in his views that Zouma is extremely sorry for his actions, and that he will continue to pick his best players despite the horrific incident.
West Ham revealed earlier this month that several charities were being earmarked for donations, and the club have now named them.
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Six of the donations are to UK-based charities and trusts, including Cats Protection, Celia Hammond Animal Trust, Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, National Animal Welfare Trust, People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals and Pussycat Lodge Trust.
SunSport spoke with Celia Hammond shortly after Zouma's video was discovered, and she called for the player to face the "full weight of the law" before admitting she was very disappointed in the club's backing of him.
Internationally, West Ham are also giving funds to the Humane Society – one of the largest global animal protection organisations, International Fund Animal Welfare – currently helping those with pets in Ukraine find safety – and War Paws.
A club statement read: “Our team at the West Ham United Foundation, which covers an enormous spectrum of community programmes and charitable causes, conducted a detailed and thorough process to identify the charities who would substantially benefit from a financial contribution.
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“This included a number of deserving cases in the Club’s east London and Essex heartland, with members of our Independent Supporters’ Committee using their network of supporters and fan groups to put forward suggestions in our local community.
“Donations have also been made to charities whose work has an international reach, including organisations who have been able to support the shelter, rescue and welfare of animals in Ukraine during the current crisis, providing support to animal shelters operating in the country and working with people who have evacuated with their animals because of the war.
“West Ham United would like to thank everyone who contacted the Club to propose animal welfare charities and good causes, along with our supporters who have been involved in the process of identifying those who have received financial support, ensuring that a huge positive has come from something negative.”
Kurt – alongside his brother Yoan who filmed the disgusting animal abuse – are still awaiting further action from the RSPCA as they start the process of prosecution against the pair.
Yoan was suspended by non-league club Dagenham and Redbridge at the time of the incident but has since returned to action.
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