On Friday 2 August, national pet charity Blue Cross celebrated a new milestone: providing food for over three million pets through its pet food banks.
Supported by the Pets at Home Foundation, Blue Cross has fed three million dogs, cats, and small animals since launching the service in 2022. This initiative aims to support struggling pet owners and keep families with their beloved pets.
Blue Cross operates five dedicated pet food banks in Sheffield, Exeter, Newport, Bicester, and Manchester, and collaborates with over 500 food banks across the UK to distribute pet food to those in need. Donations of pet food can be made at Blue Cross rehoming centres, animal hospitals, and over 450 Pets at Home pet care centres across the UK.
“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”
With rising costs, these pet food banks have become a crucial lifeline, assisting more than 85,000 owners. Among them is Vincent, who relies on the Blue Cross pet food bank for his Staffordshire bull terrier, Tika.
He 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.”
Pets at Home will be 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.
Amy Angus, Head of Charity and Community at the Pets at Home Foundation, said, “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.”
Chris Burghes, Blue Cross CEO, said, “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.”
People can find their nearest pet food bank or donation point and more information at bluecross.org.uk/petfoodbank
