HELP FROM PET OWNERS: People are forced to contemplate the heartbreaking decision to give up their companion for the Blue Cross to step in to help (Image: Helen Yates)
Animal charity Blue Cross has teamed up with food banks in London to help pet owners who are struggling to feed their animals as the daily cost of living continues to rise.
The Charity Veterinary Clinics in Hugh Street, Victoria; Merton High Street in Merton and in Argyle Place, King Street and Hammersmith collect dog, cat and kitten food and cat litter. The hospitals have teamed up with Westminster Chapel; Hammersmith and Fulham Food Bank; Roehampton Community Box and Wimbledon Foodbank, which distribute the food to pet owners who need help.
Louise Newman, Hospital Manager at Blue Cross Victoria Veterinary Hospital, said: “We have heard stories of owners who have gone without food themselves to help cover the cost of feeding or caring for their pets, and we recognize that for some, their pets can be a lifeline Humans are their only companions and connection to the outside world, no pet should go hungry, and no one should have to choose to feed themselves or their animals.
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“Pets are part of the family and that’s why we’ve partnered with our local food banks to help people keep their families together. Your donations will help people who have nowhere else to turn.”
A Westminster Chapel spokesman said: “For a number of food bank users, their only companion is their pet, which has been part of their family for some time. The cost of living crisis is causing individuals to consider the heartbreaking decision to give up their companion as they cannot support them and do not want to see them suffer.”
Saba Hassan, Deputy CEO of Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank, said: “With the cost of living crisis and the onset of cold weather, we expect demand for our food packs to increase. We look forward to receiving animal feed donations from Blue Cross in addition to our emergency food kits which we are providing to residents of Hammersmith and Fulham in need.”
Pet food donations can be dropped off at Blue Cross Victoria, Hammersmith and Merton Hospitals. Find out more information or make a monetary donation online and find more information on how to access a food bank to get help for your pet here.
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