Centre celebrates its 100th birthday

Staff, volunteers and supporters past and present have helped our Southampton adoption centre mark its 100^th birthday.

They were joined by some of the dogs we have rehomed over the years to celebrate the momentous occasion. 

The centre was officially opened on February 28, 1910.

Originally called the Shelter for Lost and Starving Cats and Dogs, it was formed by Della Ganna, a long time subscriber to Our Dumb Friends League, as we were then known.

It moved to its current site in Bubb Lane, West End, in 1991 and benefits from state of the art facilities after a £1.5 million revamp last year.

100 YEARS OF THE BLUE CROSS IN SOUTHAMPTON

1910 – Mrs Della Gana sets up the Shelter for Lost and Starving Cats and Dogs. It is officially opened on February 28 by Lady Emma Crichton.

1914 – Outbreak of World War One. Free boarding is provided for cats and dogs of soldiers and sailors.

1921 – Our Dumb Friends League advances funds to buy the freehold property in Southampton which had previously been rented.

1942 – Southampton is severely bombed in World War Two and 2,159 animals are destroyed, many at the request of their owners who cannot care for them in the heavily bombed city.

1947 – 915 stray cats left behind when military camps in the area closed are rescued by the shelter from lives of scrounging around hotels and clubs.

1960 – The shelter has the only automatically heated and air-conditioned unit for strays in the country.

1991 – The shelter is transferred to our current site at Bubb Lane, West End.

1992 – 40 new kennels are built, each with their own exercise area as well as a new reception area, laundry and isolation unit.

1994 – New cattery for more than 60 cats opens.

2002 – New facilities are provided to care for the growing number of pet rabbits that are being abandoned or released into the wild.

2009 – £1.5m rebuild provides a new veterinary clinic and state of the art kennels, puppy and kitten unit, isolation unit and admissions block.