Guilt could lead to abandoned pets

A Blue Cross survey has revealed that some pet owners would feel too guilty to go to experts for help if they could no longer look after their pet.

74 per cent of people questioned by the charity said that they would rather rehome their pet through friends or family than hand it over to a charity like The Blue Cross, with 77 per cent saying they would feel guilty and 23 per cent embarrassed that they could no longer cope. Almost a third felt that they would be judged.

The Blue Cross fears that these feelings could be the cause of animals being abandoned. The charity wants to reassure pet owners that they will be welcomed and not judged by staff if they take the responsible decision of handing their pet to an animal adoption centre.

Steve Broomfield, regional manager at The Blue Cross, said: We would like to put an end to cats being left in boxes in car parks and dogs left tied up to fences, by letting people know that if they can no longer cope with their pet, they will be welcomed at our adoption centres. At The Blue Cross we view owners that bring their pets to us as responsible and we value their input into the process of rehoming their pet. If a centre has space available, any pets will be welcome.

Staff at a Blue Cross adoption centre discovered Ivy (pictured left) tied to the fence at the entrance to the centre, still sat in her bed. Although she was very nervous at first, she slowly settled in. Ivy has now been successfully rehomed and lives with her new best friend, a Chihuahua.

Dudley the cat is another example an abandoned pet. His previous owners left him inside a Blue Cross van parked outside another of the charity's adoption centres. Fortunately, Blue Cross staff discovered him, but he was in a very poor condition and dangerously dehydrated. Dudley was rushed to The Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria, London, where he spent a long time recovering. Happily, Dudley pulled through and now has a new home.