Students go behind the scenes at The Blue Cross

Students from Wiltshire College, Lackham were treated to a behind the scenes tour of the Blue Cross animal adoption centre in Burford, Oxfordshire, on Tuesday (12 June 2007) as a special ‘thank you’ for a fundraising event organised by students. During the tour students presented Jane Pawling, animal welfare assistant at the Burford centre, with a giant cheque for the £384.52 raised.

The second year students, studying for the National Diploma in Animal Management course, organised a ‘Barking Mad Companion Dog Show’ on Monday 8 May in aid of The Blue Cross and PDSA. The event was supported by local businesses and hundreds of people turned up with their pets to take part in dog shows, agility and obedience sessions.

The college in Lackham runs a Blue Cross fostering scheme, caring for and rehoming Blue Cross cats.  The initiative gives students the opportunity to learn about caring for cats and discover what is involved in finding homes for them.

Denise Young, Blue Cross fostering development officer said: “We are so grateful to the students for organising the fundraising event in May. The fostering scheme at Lackham has been really successful since it was launched last year. It is an ideal partnership which enables the students to learn more about animal management and provides The Blue Cross with additional space for the many animals needing new homes.” 

So far this year the college has found homes for seven cats and they currently have four more waiting for new homes. The funds raised by the college event will be used to help care for the homeless pets at The Blue Cross animal adoption centre at Burford.

For more information about adopting a cat from Lackham College please contact the college on 01249 466878.

Media contact: Louise Lee
Direct: 0207 932 4066
Mobile: 07880 781637

Notes to editors

Burford animal adoption centre was opened in 1990, and serves the counties of Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire. There are facilities for up to 60 dogs and puppies, 48 cats and kittens, seven pairs of rabbits, and six guinea pigs. Members of the public can now receive a tour of the adoption centre from a volunteer. Our trained volunteers operate the tour on Tuesday afternoons for groups up to 12 people, or individuals. Hundreds of animals are successfully rehomed every year.

To contact the centre call 01993 822483. Opening hours: Monday – Wednesday & Friday – Sunday & Bank Holidays: 10am – 3pm. Closed on Thursdays.