Couple donate generous legacy to help pets in need

Having spent their lives surrounded by animals, it was Margaret and Joseph ‘Joe’ Harry Bowater’s wish to help pets for many more years to come.

And by leaving Blue Cross a generous legacy of £50,000 for our Bromsgrove rehoming centre in the West Midlands, the couple has secured happy and healthy futures for more pets in need than would have otherwise been possible.

Margaret and Joe dedicated most of their lives to running a farm in nearby Wychbold, Worcestershire, during which time they had an ever-expanding family of pets, including cats and their beloved boxers.

It was a 24/7 lifestyle which, although hectic, never fazed them. But after many successful years, they reached retirement age and – with heavy hearts – stepped down from farming.

They spent 10 further happy years living with their pets in a rural bungalow surrounded by land, and feeling at home watching over sheep grazing in a paddock close by.

As the couple approached the age of 76, they moved to a more residential location where they made many friends, who came to depend on the animal-lovers to look after their pets when they were away.

The couple’s passion for animals continued right up until they passed away – Joe, in 2014, aged 91, and Margaret, in 2018, aged 96.

Niece Julie Hipkiss said: “Margaret and Joe adored animals and were never happier than when looking after a sick animal, feeding treats to the boxer dogs, or looking after a stray cat; it was their wish to help all animals.

“They worked hard all of their lives and their wish was to continue to help all animals when they were no longer around.”

More than half our income comes from legacies and we remain grateful for the generosity of our supporters like Margaret and Joe, who help us be there for pets.