Meet the Blue Cross bloggers
Find out who's who
Caroline Reay
Caroline is the Chief Vet at our Merton animal hospital and she’s been at Blue Cross for more than 20 years. Before that she worked in private practice in the London area. Caroline’s professional interests are veterinary medicine and animal behaviour and, in her free time, she’s studying Spanish.
Over the years Caroline has rehomed three Blue Cross pets and her current cat, Kater, is certainly the biggest – and the most demanding! Kater is a gorgeous tomcat who came to us as a stray. After a tough life on the streets he’s now enjoying his home comforts.
Claire Stallard
Claire Stallard is an Animal Behaviourist, helping pets who come to us with behavioural issues and supporting new owners with any pet problems. She has worked at Blue Cross for nine years, six of these as a behaviourist, and she’s a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.
Claire loves working with people and their pets, especially when she can help to resolve problems for both parties. She has a wonderful staffie cross, Nubo, who she rehomed from our Burford centre five years ago, and a very noisy 12-year-old Himalayan cat called Keiko.
Julie Stone
Julie is the Manager of our Lewknor rehoming centre in Oxfordshire and she’s worked at Blue Cross for 15 years. She has a keen interest in animal behaviour and over the years she’s owned a variety of dogs, including a rottweiler, German shepherd crossbreed and several miniature dachshunds. She currently has three dogs.
Julie has a degree in psychology and business and she’s an advocate of lifelong learning. She’s also a keen artist, painting mostly animals in her spare time.
Rachel Cunningham
Rachel is the Blue Cross Public Affairs Manager and she’s been working in and around politics for nearly 10 years. She started her career working at parliament for an MP and she’s also spent time as a government relations consultant and as the public affairs manager for Dogs Trust.
Rachel loves politics but she loves cats more! She has two naughty torties – two-year-olds Pixie and Pearl.
Natasha Kleanthous
Natasha is the Blue Cross Editor and she writes our Blueprint magazine, annual review, Pawprint newsletter and website stories. She loves her job because it means she gets to be really nosy about what’s happening and meet lots of our fabulous staff (and pets) at all the centres and hospitals.
Natasha has a 25-year-old horse called Bertie who she’s had since they were both fresh-faced youths. Bertie’s favourite hobby is to roll in her field and get as muddy as possible just before grooming time.
Ruth Court
Ruth is our Horse Welfare Manager. She joined Blue Cross in August 2012 after volunteering with us for a number of years. Ruth has a BSc (hons) degree in Equine Management and has the BHSII certificate. She has been a freelance rider and coach, and lectured in Equine Studies at De Montfort University and Moulton College as well as managing the college’s equestrian centre.
Ruth has also been involved in training the Fire and Rescue Service in large animal rescue. She is vice-chair of the Northamptonshire BHS committee and was involved in equine welfare for the BHS.