Charity Blue Cross has teamed up with a local food bank to provide vital help to pet owners who are struggling to feed their animals as everyday living costs continue to rise.
The pet charity’s shop on Widemarsh Street in Hereford is seeking donations of dog, cat and kitten food, as well as food for small animals including rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters which will then be distributed to needy families through Hereford Food Bank, which is based on Monkmoor Street.
Elaine Hyde, Shop Manager at Blue Cross’s charity shop in Hereford, said: “Here at Blue Cross we’ve heard stories of owners going without food themselves to cover the cost of feeding or caring for their pets and are aware that for some people their pets are their only companions and link to the outside world.
“No pet should have to go hungry, and no one should have to choose between feeding themselves or feeding their pets. Pets are part of the family and that’s why we’ve teamed up with our local foodbank to help people to keep their family together. Your donations will help families who have nowhere else to turn.”
Jacquie Alsop, Food Bank Manager at Hereford Food Bank, said: “We have been so grateful for the support and kindness Blue Cross has given us in providing pet food for our clients.
“In October we were able to provide a week’s worth of food to 62 dogs, this equates to 434 meals. We also supported 55 cats with seven days’ worth of food equating to 385 meals. As the cost of living hits us all, these numbers will no doubt rise.”
Donations of pet food can be dropped off at the Blue Cross charity shop. For more information or to make a cash donation online visit www.bluecross.org.uk/GivePetFood
For more information on Hereford Food Bank visit https://herefordfoodbank.co.uk/
- 2022 is the 125th anniversary of Blue Cross, originally ‘Our Dumb Friends League’. The charity formed to help vulnerable pets and their owners and we continue this work today across our rehoming, clinical, animal behaviour, pet bereavement support and educational work. We are striving to be able to help even more pets in the future live healthy lives in happy homes. Blue Cross relies on the support and donations of pet lovers to continue our vital work, to find out more and make a donation visit www.bluecross.org.uk/125-years-of-blue-cross
