The Blue Cross
Encyclopedia
The Blue Cross is a registered animal welfare charity
in the United Kingdom
, founded in 1897 as Our Dumb Friends League. The charity provides support for pet owners who cannot afford private veterinary treatment, helps to find homes for unwanted animals, and educates the public in the responsibilities of animal ownership.
The charity works closely with a number of other organizations to promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
as Our Dumb Friends League, a "society for the encouragement of kindness to animals". It opened its first animal hospital
, in Victoria, London
, on 15 May 1906.
In 1912, the league started its "Blue Cross Fund" to assist animals affected by war. This fund went towards assisting animals affected by conflict including in the first and second world wars. The name of the appeal fund became more widely known than the official charity title and the league and officially changed its name to "The Blue Cross" in 1950.
s. They operate four animal hospitals, three of which are in London, at Victoria
, Merton
and Hammersmith
and a fourth in Grimsby
, Lincolnshire
as well as operate mobile clinics throughout the country. The Blue Cross carried out over 97,000 treatments, operations and diagnostic investigations in 2010.
An extension of the animal care operation is the operation of two horse ambulances, which operate at equestrian events to recover injured horses from the field of play. This follows on from being the first organisation to operate a horse ambulance, which covered the streets of London from 1900, rescuing injured animals.
The Blue Cross is also heavily involved in animal adoption
, arranging adoption for companion animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits and small rodents, as well as larger species such as horses. In 2010, the charity rehomed 6717 animals.
The organisation also works to improve the lives of animals through promotion to pet owners and work in animal behaviour
therapy. They also offer a pet bereavement councselling service for owners traumatised by the loss of an animal.
and Northiam
(East Sussex
)), both of which had been in existence for over 50 years. Final decisions on both sites were announced on 4 May 2010. The Felixstowe centre was saved after an extensive publicity campaign by locals.
.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, founded in 1897 as Our Dumb Friends League. The charity provides support for pet owners who cannot afford private veterinary treatment, helps to find homes for unwanted animals, and educates the public in the responsibilities of animal ownership.
The charity works closely with a number of other organizations to promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
History
The organisation was founded on 10 May 1897 in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as Our Dumb Friends League, a "society for the encouragement of kindness to animals". It opened its first animal hospital
Animal Hospital
Animal Hospital was a television show starring Rolf Harris that ran on the BBC from 1994 until 2004. The story showed animal welfare stories from RSPCA hospitals.-Location:...
, in Victoria, London
Victoria, London
Victoria is a commercial and residential area of inner city London, lying wholly within the City of Westminster, and named after Queen Victoria....
, on 15 May 1906.
In 1912, the league started its "Blue Cross Fund" to assist animals affected by war. This fund went towards assisting animals affected by conflict including in the first and second world wars. The name of the appeal fund became more widely known than the official charity title and the league and officially changed its name to "The Blue Cross" in 1950.
Operations
The Blue Cross operates a number of services throughout the United Kingdom. Its first and still primary service is the provision of veterinary services to animal owners who cannot afford the fees charged by private veterinary surgeonVeterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon is a term used to describe:*The full title of a vet, who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals, in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries**See also Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom...
s. They operate four animal hospitals, three of which are in London, at Victoria
Victoria, London
Victoria is a commercial and residential area of inner city London, lying wholly within the City of Westminster, and named after Queen Victoria....
, Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
and Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
and a fourth in Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
as well as operate mobile clinics throughout the country. The Blue Cross carried out over 97,000 treatments, operations and diagnostic investigations in 2010.
An extension of the animal care operation is the operation of two horse ambulances, which operate at equestrian events to recover injured horses from the field of play. This follows on from being the first organisation to operate a horse ambulance, which covered the streets of London from 1900, rescuing injured animals.
The Blue Cross is also heavily involved in animal adoption
Rescue group
An animal rescue group or animal rescue organization is dedicated to pet adoption. These groups take unwanted, abandoned, abused, or stray pets and attempt to find suitable new homes for them...
, arranging adoption for companion animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits and small rodents, as well as larger species such as horses. In 2010, the charity rehomed 6717 animals.
The organisation also works to improve the lives of animals through promotion to pet owners and work in animal behaviour
Animal behaviour
Animal behaviour is the subject of:* The field of Ethology* Animal Behaviour, a scientific journal...
therapy. They also offer a pet bereavement councselling service for owners traumatised by the loss of an animal.
Proposed Closure of two animal centres
On 26 January 2010, The Blue Cross announced the proposed closure of the two animal adoption centres (FelixstoweFelixstowe
Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
and Northiam
Northiam
Northiam is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. The village is located thirteen miles north of Hastings in the valley of the River Rother. The main road that passes through it is the A28 which goes to Canterbury and Hastings.-Governance:The lowest level of...
(East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
)), both of which had been in existence for over 50 years. Final decisions on both sites were announced on 4 May 2010. The Felixstowe centre was saved after an extensive publicity campaign by locals.
Partnerships
The Blue Cross is affiliated with other organisations including the Society for Companion Animal Studies, the Irish Blue Cross and the Pet Fostering Service Scotland. it also has arrangements with DogsBlog.comDogsBlog.com
DogsBlog.com is a dog rescue website founded by Ryan O'Meara and Kim Bruce, and set up by K9 Media Ltd. It was launched in January 2007, and has since found new homes for over 6,700 dogs via the website which provides a free service for 212 different rescue shelters.-Milestones and...
.