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Blue Cross news archive - 2008

French fundraise for The Blue Cross
The long-running French TV programme '30 Million dames' featured the veterinary work of The Blue Cross in a recent episode. (19 December 2008)

Pets provide a clue to finding the ‘purrfect’ partner
Want to know what really makes a woman purr? Take a closer look at her pet. (19 December 2008)

Interdressage offers The Blue Cross help with a difference
The Blue Cross has recently taken up a kind offer of one free entry per month into a dressage competition with a difference.

New tree memorial scheme launched at Rolleston
The Blue Cross is delighted to be able to plant two beautiful new areas of woodland at its equine centre in Rolleston.

Animal charity sets up shop in Bromsgrove
The Blue Cross has opened the doors of its newest charity shop on Bromsgrove High Street, giving shoppers a chance to beat the credit crunch with some Christmas bargains.

New Blue Cross Welfare Badge for the Pony Club
The Blue Cross has introduced a brand new Pony Club badge in recognition of exemplary equine welfare.

Blue Cross animal welfare hero receives award at House of Lords
Liz Walsh, a Blue Cross community vet nurse, has received a special award at the House of Lords from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). (14 October 2008)

Companion horses in need of good homes
Here at The Blue Cross, we have several companion horses in need of loving new homes. Companion horses offer great company, can have a positive influence on other horses, and be highly rewarding to have around. (25 September 2008)

The Blue Cross welcomes a visit from Dame Suzi Leather
Recently the Blue Cross Victoria hospital and communications office welcomed the visit of Dame Suzi Leather. (5 September 2008)

Animal lovers flock to new social network for pets
Thousands of animal lovers are flocking to a new social networking website. The site www.allaboutpets.org.uk has been billed as the 'Facebook for pet owners'. (1 September 2008)

The Blue Cross at the Pony Club Championships 2008
This year the Pony Club Championships were held at Draycott house. Once again, it was five days of fantastic competition. (29 August 2008)

£1.5 million appeal to help local pets in need
A major rebuild project to transform The Blue Cross animal adoption centre in West End, Southampton is now underway. (29 August 2008)

Helping pets in Malta
We are pleased to announce that a new companion animal welfare organisation has been added to our list of Welfare Associates. (27 August 2008)

The UK's first National Dog Adoption Month
August 2008 is National Dog Adoption Month, which aims to promote the benefits of adopting a dog. (21 August 2008)

Have you seen our 'talking pet'?
The Blue Cross has launched a new talking pets campaign which, for the first time, allows your pet to talk back to you. The aim is to raise awareness of our online community for pet lovers, www.allaboutpets.org.uk. (29 July 2008)

Blue Cross sets up shop in Stroud
Author Jilly Cooper helped to officially open the latest Blue Cross charity shop in Stroud, Gloucestershire on Thursday 17 July. (18 July 2008)

Rescue dog sniffs out new career with the police
Theo, a homeless crossbreed dog taken in by our adoption centre in Southampton, has embarked on a new lease of life helping Dorset Police sniff out crime. (17 July 2008)

Equine welfare award winners
The Blue Cross has presented its first Equine Welfare Awards to acknowledge the hard work of students towards the welfare of horses and ponies.
(8 July 2008)

New CEO takes the reins at The Blue Cross
The Blue Cross welcomes a new chief executive, Kim Hamilton, following the retirement of John Rutter after seven years in the driving seat. (03 July 2008)

Spring 2008 Paw Draw winners
The winners of this year's Blue Cross Spring Paw Draw raffle have been chosen. (30 June 2008)

Companion animal interventions in therapeutic practice
The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) is a UK-based charity dedicated to understanding how interactions between people and companion animals can improve quality of life and well-being. SCAS has developed a new training course on animal-assisted therapy, one of very few available in the UK. (19 June 2008)

Launch of National Equine Welfare Protocol
The Blue Cross is one of a number of equine welfare organisations who have linked together to launch a National Equine Welfare Protocol. (16 June 2008)

Build a bear to help our pets
The Blue Cross has teamed up with the Build-A-Bear organisation to raise money for Blue Cross pets. Build-A-Bear turns teddy bears (and some doggie bears) into funds for a good cause through their stores across the world. (11 June 2008)

Horse and his groom awarded special training
Blue Cross horse Ryan and his riding groom Annalisa Burge have been selected by a leading dressage training group to participate in their prestigious dressage training programme during 2008. (9 June 2008)

Pets go to church for The Blue Cross
The Blue Cross saw animals of all shapes and sizes descend on St Mary’s church in Thirsk on Sunday 8 June for a special animal themed Sunday service. (9 June 2008)

Remembering your pet
The Blue Cross pet memorial service provides a helpful and comforting way of remembering and commemorating the life of an animal. (29 May 2008)

Welfare clinic helps pets in Devon
The Blue Cross is launching a new veterinary welfare clinic based at the animal adoption centre in Tiverton on 3 June 2008. The clinic will provide a charitable service for the pets of local residents on means tested benefits and low incomes who struggle to afford private vets' fees. (20 May 2008)

Brits love their tea as much as their pets
Dogs of all shapes and sizes were on their best behaviour today while ‘taking tea’ at the prestigious Oxo Tower restaurant on London’s South Bank to celebrate the start of the UK’s biggest Tea Party in aid of needy pets. (14 May 2008)

Dogs with waggiest tails wanted
The Blue Cross has organised a fun dog show in conjunction with British Waterways on Sunday 1 June to help raise money towards the Thirsk adoption centre appeal. (2 May 2008)

Lending a paw for the Royal Parks Half Marathon
We are encouraging animal lovers across the country to help needy pets and sign up for our running places in the first ever half marathon through central London on Sunday 12 October. (1 May 2008)

Dog cheats death in dual carriageway drama
A Blue Cross animal ambulance driver undertook a dramatic dog rescue last week when she spotted a dog dangerously dodging traffic on the high-speed A312 near Feltham, Middlesex. (1 May 2008)

Blue Cross horse survives colic to take centre stage at Badminton
A horse in the care of The Blue Cross has proved to be a true survivor after making a remarkable recovery from life-threatening surgery to lead out the world's finest event horses at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, which take place on 1-4 May 2008. (30 April 2008)

Free Wills Fortnight
The Blue Cross is one of eight UK charities working together to promote Free Wills Fortnight, which runs from 15-30 May 2008. (23 April 2008)

From ‘foul play’ to ‘foal play’
A one-week-old foal nicknamed 'Lucky' is thanking his lucky stars after being saved from a life of neglect and abandonment by The Blue Cross. (22 April 2008)

JA Wight Award goes to Chris Laurence
The JA Wight memorial award, sponsored by The Blue Cross, has this year been presented to Chris Laurence MBE, BVSc, MRCVS for his exceptional contribution to animal welfare. (4 April 2008)

Countrywide Stores to fundraise for The Blue Cross
The Blue Cross is pleased to announce the support of Countrywide Farmers Stores in helping to raise funds for the charity. (2 April 2008)

Local authorities given sole responsibility for stray dogs
A change in legislation means that from Sunday 6 April local authorities will be solely responsible for the collection and retention of stray dogs. This places the onus of responsibility on local authorities to make provision for stray dogs in their areas at all times. (1 April 2008)

New era for Northiam equine centre
The Blue Cross has announced exciting plans to develop the role of its Northiam equine centre, and is inviting local people to attend the official opening event on Saturday 5 April 2008. (28 March 2008) 

Green light for Thirsk adoption centre
It's 'all systems go' for the major rebuild of the Blue Cross animal adoption centre in Topcliffe, Thirsk. Hambleton District Council has given planning permission for the £1.5million transformation of the site. (19 March 2008)

New pledge to protect pets in Northern Ireland
The welfare of companion animals in Northern Ireland has risen up the legislative agenda as government officials pledged to develop new laws to protect pets. (14 March 2008)

April fun dog day at Hampstead Heath
The Blue Cross will be taking part in a free dog-tastic day on Saturday 12 April on Hampstead Heath, London. (13 March 2008)

Killer dog disease on increase
The Blue Cross is warning dog owners that their pets are at risk of the killer canine disease 'parvovirus' if they are not vaccinated and annual boosters are not kept up to date. (3 March 2008).

The Blue Cross Veterinary Care Fund
The Blue Cross Veterinary Care Fund is a way of helping the needy pets of people on lower incomes who do not live near Blue Cross hospitals or welfare clinics. (29 February 2008)

New scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour with dogs
A new scheme has been launched to reduce intimidating and anti-social behaviour with dogs on London's streets. The 'People with Dogs Project' brings together The Blue Cross with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, the Greater London Authority, Metropolitan Police, RSPCA and Wandsworth Council. (28 February 2008)

Do reptiles make a good pet?
Recent news articles report a rise in the interest of keeping reptiles and amphibians. Reptiles and amphibians are fascinating creatures, but they have exacting care requirements too. (26 February 2008)

New East London location for mobile clinic service
The Blue Cross launches a new veterinary service in Walthamstow on Friday 15 February 2008. (12 February 2008)

Homeless pets call out for love this Valentine’s day
This Valentine's day, we are playing cupid for the animals in our adoption centres across the UK, looking after homeless pets who would like to meet loving new owners and find permanent homes. (11 February 2008)

Get involved in London Animal Day
We are looking for volunteers to help fundraise for The Blue Cross on London Animal Day in June 2008. (31 January 2008)

New charity shop opens
The Blue Cross has set up a new charity shop in Droitwich, providing local shoppers with a worthwhile excuse to continue their new year bargain hunting. (23 January 2008) 

Yorkie left in shopping trolley
The Blue Cross is appealing for the owner of a Yorkshire Terrier to come forward after the dog was discovered in a shopping trolley in Hackney yesterday on 16 January. The sweet natured Yorkie, nicknamed 'Daisy' by staff, was found in a chequered trolley outside the charity's mobile veterinary clinic. (18 January 2008)

Large scale horse rescue
Over 80 horses at a Buckinghamshire location have been rescued after more than 30 horses were discovered dead on the site. The Blue Cross was present at the scene offering support to the RSPCA and other equine welfare organisations as they undertake handling this huge scale rescue. (11 January 2008)

Hilary Benn highlights the importance of caring for pets
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, visited our hospital in Victoria, London, today. He was introduced to clients and also saw pets attending the obesity clinic, where overweight pets are given regular weigh-ins and check ups to ensure they return to a healthy weight. (7 January 2008)

Emmy's amazing survival
A cat that was accidentally locked in a garden shed survived for over two months by licking condensation off the windows. Emmy, a black and white cat, followed her owner into the wooden shed, but became trapped when he left and unknowingly locked her inside. (7 January 2008)

Safety for children around dogs
Since the tragic death of 13-month-old Archie-Lee Hirst in Wakefield last week, after being attacked by a Rottweiler, many parents will be understandably concerned about the safety of their own children around dogs. Our guidelines are a recommendation on the best course of action. (4 January 2008)

Christmas Paw Draw raffle winners
A Blue Cross rescue dog has sniffed out four big winners in the 2007 Christmas Paw Draw raffle at the Blue Cross animal adoption centre in Burford. (December 2007)

Blue Cross ‘angels’ care for sick pets this Christmas
Poorly pets are in safe hands at Blue Cross animal hospitals this Christmas. Our team of dedicated nurses and vets will be working 24 hours a day throughout Christmas and New Year to treat sick and injured pets in Blue Cross care. (December 2007)

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