Pet charity thanks Devon volunteers

This Volunteers’ Week (3 – 9 June), Blue Cross pet charity in Devon is thanking its team of dedicated volunteer pet foster carers who go the extra mile to care for homeless pets until permanent owners are found by caring for them in their own home. From small pets like degus and chinchillas to dogs, cats and even horses. The charity is also calling on local animal lovers to find out more about becoming a volunteer foster carer and sign up.

Annaliese Langworthy, Centre Manager at Blue Cross Devon said: “We are so grateful to all of our volunteers who foster pets for us. We know they find the experience incredibly rewarding and some even say it has been life changing, for both themselves and the pets they have cared for. Being in a home environment is so much better for pets and it also means more space in our rehoming centres to help animals in desperate need. For puppies and kittens it is essential for them to be around the usual household sights and sounds to enable them to grow into happy and confident adult pets.”

Blue Cross aims to rehome 10,000 pets per year by 2026 and is calling out to local animal lovers to sign up as volunteer foster carers to help the charity to reach this ambitious aim.

Patsy Hayman has been volunteering and fostering for Blue Cross in Devon for nearly three years and in that time, has Patsy and her family have fostered almost every pet including cats and kittens, mice, degus and hamsters. Louise Bradbury, Foster Coordinator at Blue Cross Devon described Patsy as a lifeline: “Nothing is too much for her and her dedication to the role is amazing, she often tells us how much she loves fostering, all around working and running a busy home. When you speak to her you can tell her passion/love of fostering and how much she enjoys it”.

Foster carers receive full training and all costs, including travel, are covered by Blue Cross and there is full support and guidance throughout.  

To find out more about becoming a volunteer foster carer and joining the Blue Cross team visit  www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-fostering  or contact the centre in Devon on 0300 777 1853 or email devon@bluecross.org.uk.

With the increasing demand for Blue Cross pet welfare services, the charity needs the support of animal lovers to continue its work helping pets and their people, in any way they can. Whether that’s by donating to keep rehoming and veterinary services going through these tough times, fundraising for Blue Cross, providing foster care for pets while loving new homes are found, volunteering at pet food banks, or signing up to support Blue Cross campaigns for better pet welfare. www.bluecross.org.uk