National pet charity Blue Cross is marking the milestone of having helped feed over three million pets for a day through its pet food banks.
The charity is urging people to make use of the service, which with the support of the Pets at Home Foundation has fed three million dogs, cats and small animals for a day since being set up to help struggling owners and keep families and their beloved pets together in 2022.
“Amid rising costs, the pet food banks are already providing a vital lifeline to more than 85,000 owners through five pet food banks in Sheffield, Exeter, Newport, Bicester and Manchester; and work with more than 500 food banks across the UK to provide pet food to owners in need,” the charity says.
Donations of pet food are taken at Blue Cross rehoming centres and animal hospitals, as well as in all 450-plus Pets at Home pet care centres across the UK.
Difficult choices
Vincent, 50, who has a Staffordshire bull terrier named Tika, said he’d have to go without food or electricity if the Blue Cross pet food bank wasn’t there to help. Vincent, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 21, said: “The pet food bank has helped tremendously. Tika means everything to me and I feel naked if I’m not walking about with her on the lead.
“I’ve worked all my life and had the Crohn’s since I was 21 but it’s just ravaging me at the moment. I’m waiting for surgery and I had to stop work because of my health and I’m just stuck at the moment.
“If it wasn’t for the pet food bank, I’d probably have to do without food myself or electricity or something just so I could get her some food until we got some more money. I’d have to go without something which I’ve done in the past. I’ve had days before where I’ve had nothing to eat myself for a couple of days but still had food for the dog.”
Julie, 57, is also struggling after being forced to give up her job due to ill health. The grandmother of five, who has two cats, said: “With the cost of everything going up and then I wasn’t working due to my health, everything got behind financially, but now I’m getting there and Blue Cross have been absolutely marvellous.”
Meanwhile the service helps Gwen’s money to go a little bit further. Gwen is recovering from a stroke and gets help from the pet food bank for her two kittens, Socks and Fluffy.
The 84-year-old, who only retired from her full-time job as a cleaner five days a week at the nearby school four years ago, said: “They’re such good company. I talk to them, and Lucky will be on my lap and Socks will sit or lie by my side while I do my wordsearch. They mean a lot, they really do. I can’t go to sleep if they’re not in at night. It would upset me tremendously if anything happened to them.
“With all the costs going up, the pet food bank is a brilliant help. I don’t know what I’d do without the help.”
Pets at Home is holding fundraising events throughout August at every pet care centre across the country, where people can buy food parcels which will be sent to nearby food banks or make a monetary donation to help more pets through the pet food bank project.
Chris Burghes, Blue Cross CEO, commented: “Our pet food banks provide a vital lifeline for owners who need help, and we’d urge anyone struggling to seek help from us. Pets are part of the family, and for so many they are their only family or companion; their only reason to get up every morning; and we know the sacrifices many owners will make to keep them, including ensuring their pets are fed instead of themselves, like Vincent.
“We want to help keep pets and people together as much we can rather than people being forced to make the difficult decision to give up their pet.”
Amy Angus, head of Charity and Community at the Pets at Home Foundation, added: “We’re incredibly proud to know that our efforts in partnership with Blue Cross have made a difference across the country, feeding three million pets (for one day).
“We are so grateful to all the Pets at Home customers who have donated in-store and made this possible. This summer our pre-filled food parcels will make it easier for people to donate to their local food banks. With these continued donations, we can continue to help pets and the people who love them.''
• People can find their nearest pet food bank or donation point and more information at bluecross.org.uk/petfoodbank
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