Historical highlights

1897 Our Dumb Friends' League - the original name for The Blue Cross - was founded.

1898 The League had 22 branches in England and Wales, one in Northern Ireland plus the cabman's branch in London.

1900 The first horse ambulance for use on London's streets was purchased for £500 by the League.

1902 Many London boroughs closed their water troughs because of an outbreak of the horse disease, glanders. The League persuaded companies using horse transport to carry a bucket on the back of each vehicle so horses could still be watered.

1904 The League wrote to all the railway companies outlining how improvements could be made in transporting live animals by rail and asking them to ensure that railway staff were fully instructed and supervised on the matter.

1905 The Trace Horse Scheme set by the League involved stationing draught horses at the bottom of London's steep hills to help smaller horses pull
heavy loads.

1906 The Victoria animal hospital was opened to provide veterinary care to the animals of poor people.

1912 The League launched The Blue Cross Fund to assist animals during the Balkan War. Animals were to be helped in future conflicts, including the first (1914-1918) and second (1939-1945) world wars.

1918 The League set up a quarantine kennel for dogs brought back to the UK by members of the armed forces after serving overseas during the first world war.

1923 The first motor horse ambulance was used on London's streets and this supported the existing work undertaken by the League's horse-drawn ambulances.

1926 HRH The Duchess of York (later Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) accepted the office of Patron of the League.

1945 To help servicemen bring dogs back from overseas, the League's Blackheath boarding kennels were used for quarantine purposes. The Blue Cross was also founded in Dublin.

1948 National children's dog shows were launched by the League to encourage children to care for their dogs.

1958 Our Dumb Friends' League became officially known as The Blue Cross.

1958 The Blue Cross's new mobile clinic service started in Ireland.

1959 The Blue Cross's new Grimsby animal hospital was officially opened.

1964 After 13 years of campaigning, The Blue Cross successfully persuaded the Irish Government to ban horse exports.

1966 A new pathology laboratory was built at the Grimsby animal hospital.

1972 The Blue Cross's Felixstowe adoption centre was opened.

1975 Property adjoining the Victoria animal hospital was purchased to provide more space and improve working conditions at the hospital.

1985 The Blue Cross's Tiverton adoption centre opened.

1988 The Duchess of York became The Blue Cross's Patron.

1991 The Blue Cross's new head office in Burford, Oxfordshire was officially opened by The Duchess
of York.

1992 The Blue Cross was the first animal welfare charity to employ an animal behaviourist to assist owners with problem pets.

1994 The Blue Cross's Southampton adoption centre was officially opened.

1995 The Irish Blue Cross celebrated its 50th anniversary. Also, as a result of successful appeals for funds, a maternity unit for dogs and cats opened at the Hertfordshire adoption centre and a new cattery was built at the Bromsgrove adoption centre.

1997 The Blue Cross celebrated its centenary and Her Majesty The Queen became Patron.

1999 The Merton animal hospital was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

2000 Work on the rebuilding of the Victoria animal hospital began.

2001 The refurbished Victoria animal hospital was officially re-opened by Her Majesty The Queen.

2003 Launch of the All About Pets national pet care information service

2004 Foundation stone laid at the site of the new Grimsby animal hospital

2005 New catteries opened in Cambridge and brand new centre opened in Lewknor. New Grimsby hospital is opened by HRH Princess Anne.

2006 New equine welfare centre opened in Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffs. The Blue Cross celebrates the centenary of its animal hospital in Victoria.