To save pets’ lives, we must act fast As admissions continue to rise, please help us continue being there for pets when they need us most. We can’t do it without you. Pets are in crisis. But you can help Urgent: donate now to save pets’ lives Scan this code Visit bluecross.org.uk/crisis Call 0300 777 1888 Or complete and return the form enclosed. Registered Charity Number: 224392 (England and Wales), SC040154 (Scotland). DM26MARLEAF Since 2022, the number of pets admitted to Blue Cross has risen by 82% Each figure represents more pets in desperate need – frightened, anxious, homeless, heartbroken, sick and in pain. Pets who urgently need our help. But we can’t give them the urgent care they need, without you. Dog admissions 122% Cat admissions 80% Horse admissions 151% Small pet admissions 46% Piglet was dangerously ill and had been badly injured when he was found and brought to Blue Cross. You can read his story in the letter enclosed. The biggest factor behind this crisis is rising costs. With the average cost of owning a pet soaring to as much as £2,000 a year, it’s no wonder people across the country are struggling to afford the basics and delaying visits to the vets. But the impact on pets is heartbreaking. Every delayed treatment risks making health issues more complicated and severe. It’s why we’re seeing increasing numbers of pets with complex health problems coming through our doors. Please donate today – before it’s too late. Why are admissions rising? Nearly 1 in 10 pet owners delayed crucial vet visits in 2023, which can make health issues worse. 1 15% of pet owners considered skipping vital veterinary care, and 14% gave their pet less or lower quality food. 2 Emergency vet care can cost families up to £13,000 driving many either into debt, or the heartbreaking decision to give up their pet. 3 Source: 1 The Guardian, “Who really profits from poorly pets?”, April 2024. 2 Blue Cross Winter Survey 2024. 3 BBC, “More pets being put down due to rising vet bills”, January 2026. “It’s not only the number of pets that’s challenging, it’s the complex care they need.” Joe Cummins, Assistant Manager, Thirsk Rehoming Centre To survive, Noodles, Hope and Chance and Gregg needed support from all of our teams – taking a lot of time, patience and funds. They are just four of the thousands of pets whose health and happiness have been devastated by this crisis. In the year ahead, we know we’ll need to help thousands more. We need your support to continue offering all of the different types of care pets urgently need – often a mix of veterinary care, behavioural support, and rehoming. Without your donation, pets in crisis may not survive. More pets than ever need urgent care When two-year-old Cob colt Gregg arrived at our Burford Centre, he was showing all the signs of an owner struggling to feed and care for him because of this crisis. “ Gregg was so malnourished it was making him clumsy.” He was dangerously underweight, with weak muscles and unsteady joints. His heart and respiratory rates were also very high – an indication that his health in general was really poor. It’s likely that vet treatments had been missed or delayed. Now his body was fighting hard just to survive. Gregg needed to get stronger, fast, or he simply wouldn’t have made it. So before giving him any other treatment, we put him straight on a nutrient-rich diet. And when he was more stable, we paired him up with a horse called Roe. The combination of good food and a friend made a fantastic difference. Gregg will always be small, but he’s healthy and stealing everyone’s hearts. “He’s just perfect,” Jess continues. “Our hope is he’ll go to a family where he can be ridden as a child’s pony.” “We weren’t sure Gregg would make it” Jess Hall, Adoptions Preparation Lead Your donation could cover the cost of nutritious food and hay to help a horse like Gregg get their strength back. When Noodles arrived at our hospital in central London, he’d been picked up as a stray by someone who was worried about his injuries. With severe burns all over his chest, tummy and paws, it looked like he’d walked or laid down on top of something hot. With rising costs impacting daily essentials, many owners would struggle to afford his necessary treatment. First, we gave him painkillers and antibiotics – crucial to stop infection. We then carefully dressed his wounds. And a couple of days later, we were thrilled to see they were already healing well. “ He was also skinny, dehydrated and refusing food.” He wouldn’t eat at first, but eventually, we discovered cat treats were the answer, and once he had some strength back, Noodles went to stay with foster carer Wendy. “I felt so sorry for him – he’d been through so much,” says Wendy. “I wasn’t surprised he was shy when he first arrived. But he’s grown braver everyday.” While still anxious, Wendy’s confident he’ll be a lap cat one day. “Noodles was shellshocked and in so much pain” Vicky Ebers, Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Blue Cross Victoria Hospital. Your gift today could pay for dressings, bandages and life-saving antibiotics for an injured cat like Noodles. This crisis doesn’t just affect pets’ physical health. It can leave them with trauma and emotional pain that lasts a lifetime. And that was exactly our concern with Hope and Chance, who were abandoned after suffering serious facial injuries. It looked as though they had been attacked by another dog. And while we’ll never know exactly what happened, one thing was very clear – these puppies needed urgent care. “We were concerned about the impact of so much trauma on young puppies.” Because we didn’t know how their experiences would affect their development, we took things slowly, placing them with foster carers who were retired, meaning they could give them plenty of time and attention and all the comforts of a real home. In the end, they surprised us all and today they are full of energy, playing like young puppies should despite everything they’ve been through. “It’s amazing how resilient they are,” adds Joe. And after more than 1,500 adoption applications, Hope and Chance have now found loving homes. “We had to prepare the team for what they were about to see...” Joe Cummins, Assistant Manager, Thirsk Rehoming Centre. Donate now before it’s too late Scan this code Visit bluecross.org.uk/crisis Call 0300 777 1888 Or complete and return the form enclosed. Your donation could give dogs like Hope and Chance, a safe place to recover from trauma.