Dumped cat thrown out with the rubbish

17 June 2008

A heartless cat owner threw out their pet with the rubbish last week, leaving her for dead in a skip. On one of the hottest days this year, the young female cat was discovered in a knotted bin-bag on the outskirts of Cambridge when a passer-by heard her cries. The distressed finder took her straight to the local Blue Cross animal adoption centre for help.

Horrified staff immediately rushed the cat to the vet who made sure she wasn’t injured or suffering from dehydration. Happily, she was given the all clear and will remain in the safe hands of The Blue Cross until a loving new home is found. The lucky six-month-old tortoiseshell moggy was given the name ‘Grace’ by staff at the centre.

Alan Maskell, Blue Cross centre manager at Cambridge said: “This is one of the worst cases of dumped pets I’ve seen. It was a really hot day so being trapped inside the bin-bag would have been a horrific ordeal for Grace; it is a miracle she survived. I can’t believe that people can just leave their pets for dead when there are charities like The Blue Cross who can help. We take in unwanted pets and give them a second chance in a loving new home.”

Across its 11 animal adoption centres nationwide, The Blue Cross has seen a 50% rise in pets being abandoned and a 32% increase in animals coming to centres because of financial difficulties this year.¹

Pet owners who are struggling to cope are urged to seek advice and not to abandon their animal. Without information about an animal’s background it can take much longer to find them a new home.

For friendly advice, or more information about Grace and the other cats seeking homes at The Blue Cross in Cambridge please contact 01223 350153 or visit the centre at 20 Garlic Row, Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8HW.

1. Statistics taken from Blue Cross animal adoption centre figures between 1^st January to 30^th April 2007, compared with figures from the same period in 2008.

Ends

Notes to editors

Image of Grace at The Blue Cross is available, or photographers are welcome to take their own . Please contact the press office.

The Blue Cross is Britain's pet charity, providing practical support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network of animal 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, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk.

Media contact

Louise Lee, The Blue Cross press office, 020 7932 4066 or 07880 781637.