Blue Cross ‘angels’ care for sick pets this Christmas

19/12/2007

Poorly pets are in safe hands at Blue Cross animal hospitals this Christmas. The animal charity's team of dedicated nurses and vets will be working 24 hours a day throughout Christmas and New Year to treat the sick and injured pets in their care.

Caroline Allenden, Blue Cross veterinary nurse in Victoria, London, said: "It will be business as normal for many of us at The Blue Cross over Christmas.  At the hospital, we'll be doing the rounds and checking on our in-patients while most people are tucking into their Christmas dinner.  But we don't mind, because the best present of all is seeing the animals recover from their injuries or illnesses and be reunited with their owners."

Among the patients being cared for at The Blue Cross Victoria hospital are a litter of tiny kittens.  Born on 8 December to a family that wasn't able to keep them, the kittens have each received a health check and are currently being monitored by nurses every few hours.  They will soon be moved to one of the charity's adoption centres in Devon where they will be looked after until they are old enough to find new homes.

The Blue Cross has been caring for the nation's pets for over 100 years.  Its flagship animal hospital in Victoria was one of the first of its kind in the world to open in 1906 and it has never closed its doors to a needy pet since.  This year, Blue Cross veterinary services have reached more pets than ever at its four hospitals and growing number of clinics.  Over 60,000 consultations and 11,000 operations have been carried out, offering a lifeline to the pets of owners on low incomes who cannot afford private vets' fees.

Blue Cross animal adoption centres have also had a busy year caring for unwanted and abandoned animals across the country. This year, over 5,000 animals have been rehomed to date, giving them the chance to spend a happy Christmas with a loving family. Many staff and enthusiastic volunteers at Blue Cross adoption centres will give up their time over the Christmas holidays to look after the many pets who are still seeking permanent homes.

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Notes to editors

• Images of Blue Cross veterinary nurse 'angels' with litter of eight-day-old kittens are available.
• Please contact the press office for filming/broadcast opportunities.
• 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.
• The charity runs four animal hospitals in Victoria, Hammersmith, Merton (London) and Grimsby.  In recent years, veterinary services have been extended to reach people and pets that may struggle to get to the hospitals.  These include mobile veterinary clinics, a community vet nurse to make home visits, and an animal ambulance service to help transport animals to and from the hospital.
• Victoria hospital is open for emergencies only during Christmas day, Boxing day and New Year's day.

For more information, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk.

Media contact
The Blue Cross: Louise Lee on 020 7932 4066 / 07880 781637 (out of hours) or louise.lee@bluecross.org.uk