Charities team up to help animals in need

24 July 2008

The Blue Cross, Britain’s pet charity, has teamed up with fellow animal welfare charity, Berwick Animal Rescue Kennels (BARK) by awarding them an annual grant to help needy pets in the area. The announcement will be celebrated at a launch event from 7.30pm on Thursday 7 August 2008 at BARK. 

The centre is the seventh organisation to join The Blue Cross’s welfare associates scheme, which was established to extend the charity’s reach to help pets in areas where there are no Blue Cross animal adoption centres or hospitals.

BARK will receive an annual grant of £10,000 from The Blue Cross towards equipment and new facilities at the sanctuary. The Berwick charity will also benefit from non-financial support, including the range of ‘All About Pets’ advice leaflets and practical support from The Blue Cross. 

Denise Young, who manages The Blue Cross welfare associates scheme said: “The Blue Cross is pleased to support smaller charities with similar aims to our own. BARK is dedicated to matching the needs of the homeless pets in their care with lifestyles of potential owners to make sure permanent homes are found - just one of the reasons why they make an ideal welfare partner for us. We hope that our support will enable BARK to find even more loving new homes for the unwanted and abandoned animals in its care.“

BARK was founded by the family of Mrs Winnie Youngman, who ran ‘Ancroft Rescue Kennels’ from 1977 until her death in 1999, based at her home ‘the Manse’ in Ancroft. Her family decided to continue rescuing and rehoming animals in the Berwick area and formed BARK, which become a registered charity in 2000.

Graeme Reavley, BARK Chair of trustees said: “We are delighted to become a Blue Cross welfare associate. Their support will greatly help our work caring for local needy pets. The annual grant will allow us to improve and expand our resources at the centre, we will also benefit from the experience and knowledge of this long established national charity.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Media are invited to attend the event on Thursday 7 August at 7.30pm. Please contact the press office for more information.

Interviews with Denise Young and Graeme Reavley can be arranged on request.

The Blue Cross animal charity provides practical support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network of small animal and equine adoption centres it rehomes thousands of animals each year. Its hospitals provide veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford private vets' fees. For more information about The Blue Cross, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk.

BARK joins existing Blue Cross welfare associates: Mayflower Sanctuary, Doncaster; Assisi Animal Sanctuary, Northern Ireland; Mountains Animal Sanctuary, Scotland; Porthcawl Animal Welfare Society, Wales and Phoenix and Les Amis des Chats in France.

For more information about BARK please visit them at Windmill Way East, Ramparts Business Park, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1TQ. Telephone 01289 306299 or www.b-a-r-k.co.uk. BARK opening times are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10.00am until 4.00pm.

Media contact

Louise Lee, Press officer on 020 7932 4966 or email louise.lee@bluecross.org.uk.