Help needed for Felixstowe pets

18/09/2007

Homeless pets at the Blue Cross animal adoption centre in Felixstowe are calling out to animal lovers to be their friends. The charity needs more volunteers to sign up to help exercise, train and socialise the animals while they are waiting to find loving new homes. 

Andrew Gillon, Blue Cross centre manager at Felixstowe said: This is a great opportunity for animal lovers to spend time with the cats and dogs in our care. Pets love human company and can become unhappy and withdrawn if they spend too much time alone in a kennel environment. We try to make their time at The Blue Cross as comfortable as we can and our staff do a great job at looking after them, but with so many animals currently needing new homes we need volunteers to come forward and help us out. We are encouraging anyone over 18-years-old to come along for a few hours a week and make some new feline, canine and human friends!

Rose Reynolds, aged 69, Blue Cross volunteer said: I have been a volunteer for The Blue Cross Felixstowe for more than ten years. I really enjoy my time here and over the years I've enjoyed the company of some lovely pets looking for a new home. My favourite activity when I come here is to walk all the different dogs. Although I do sometimes become fond of particular animals I'm always happy to see them leave with new owners to live in a nice permanent home. I also enjoy helping with a lot of fundraising events and find raising money for The Blue Cross a really worthwhile activity.

Volunteering opportunities are open to anyone over 18 with a few hours to spare either at weekends or during the week. Opportunities include:

• Walking and playing with dogs
• Handling, grooming and socialising cats
• Help with events held at the centre
• Fundraising activities

To find out more about becoming a volunteer at the Blue Cross animal adoption centre in Felixstowe contact 01394 283254 or visit the centre at 333 High Street, Walton, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 9QL.

For more ways to support the work of The Blue Cross visit www.bluecross.org.uk

-ends-

Notes to editors:

• Felixstowe animal adoption centre opened in 1970, after 23 years at another location in Walton. A rebuild followed in 1999 and provided a new reception, kitten unit, and an admissions unit. The centre mainly services Suffolk, Essex, parts of Cambridge, and parts of Norfolk. There are facilities for 24 cats and 12 dogs. Hundreds of animals are successfully rehomed every year.
• To contact the centre call 01394 283254. Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday: 11am-4pm. Wednesdays: 11am-1pm. Thursday Saturday: 11am-4pm: Closed on Sundays.

The Blue Cross is Britain's pet charity, providing practical support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network of animal adoption centres it rehomes thousands of animals each year. Its hospitals provide veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford private vets' fees.

Media contact:
Louise Lee on 020 7932 4066 / 07880 781637 (out of hours) or louise.lee@bluecross.org.uk