Charities team up to help animals in need

The Blue Cross, Britain’s pet charity, has teamed up with fellow animal welfare charity, Mayflower Sanctuary in Doncaster to help needy pets in the area. The announcement will be celebrated at Mayflower’s open day this Saturday (18 August) between 11.30am until 1.30pm.

Opened in June 2003, Mayflower Sanctuary takes care of unwanted dogs and cats from local authorities and the public until they can be found new homes. The sanctuary is the fourth 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.

Mayflower will receive an annual grant of £20,000 from The Blue Cross towards new resources, facilities and training at the sanctuary. The Doncaster 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 is responsible for Blue Cross welfare associates said: "The Blue Cross has a long history of helping smaller charities whose aims and values are in sympathy with our own. Mayflower’s commitment to matching homeless pets with new owners was just one of the reasons why they are an ideal welfare partner for us. We are confident that our contributions will help Mayflower find even more loving new homes for the unwanted and abandoned cats and dogs in their care."

Jennie Foxall-Lord, manager at Mayflower Sanctuary said: "We are delighted to be linked with The Blue Cross and thankful for the support we will receive as a result of the association. Not only will this enable us to improve and expand our resources at the sanctuary through the annual grant, we will also benefit from the experience and knowledge of this long established national charity."

The Blue Cross has also announced a new association with Les Amis des Chats, a cat welfare organisation in southern France. The charity’s longstanding ties with France began during the First World War when The Blue Cross offered veterinary aid to French Army horses and dogs on the battlefields of France. Les Amis des Chats are the second French welfare association to receive support from The Blue Cross; a link with the Phoenix Association was announced in 2005.

13 August 2007

ENDS

Notes to Editors

· Media are invited to attend The Mayflower Sanctuary open day. Please contact the press office for more information.

· Interviews with Denise Young and Jennie Foxall-Lord can be arranged.

· 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.

· Mayflower Sanctuary joins existing Blue Cross welfare associates: Assisi Animal Sanctuary, Northern Ireland; Mountains Animal Sanctuary, Scotland; Porthcawl Animal Welfare Society, Wales and Phoenix in France.

· For more information about The Blue Cross, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk 

· For more information about Mayflower Sanctuary please visit Narrow Lane, Bawtry, Nr Doncaster, DN10 6QJ, telephone 01302 711330 or www.mayflowersanctuary.com

· Mayflower Sanctuary viewing times are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 2.00pm - 4.00pm. Saturday and Sunday 1.00pm - 4.00pm. Closed all day Tuesday.

Media contact

Louise Lee, Press officer on 020 7932 4966 or 07880 781637 or email louise.lee@bluecross.org.uk