Blue Cross is a charity that has been helping sick, injured and homeless pets since 1897. They care for around 40,000 pets every year, providing veterinary care, rehoming services, and expert behaviour help, as well as advice and education for current or future pet owners.
None of this would be possible were it not for the support from the team in Dudley, who work tirelessly to raise money to support Blue Cross’s work. In 2024, the 8 volunteers at the Dudley shop received and sorted an incredible 1,006 bags of donations, which raised £44,000 in donated sales.
This could pay for Blue Cross veterinary teams to provide emergency care for 440 sick or injured pets, or could provide 1,466 dogs in their care with vaccinations against life threatening diseases.
Sonia Kumar MP said: “Charity shops are a staple of the British high street, providing both bargains and hidden gems, as well as giving local people an opportunity to use their free time to volunteer for a good cause.
“Last week, I had the pleasure of joining shop manager Viki to celebrate the important role volunteers play in the running of her shop.
“As a strong advocate of supporting small and medium sized businesses, it was a privilege to see firsthand the work volunteers Calum, Liam and their colleagues do and learn how their work supports the wider work of Blue Cross, as well as being able to lend them a hand.”
With the increasing demand for Blue Cross pet welfare services, the charity needs the support of animal lovers in Dudley to continue its work helping pets and their people, in any way they can. To find out more about volunteering at the Dudley shop you can visit bluecross.org.uk/volunteer-one-our-charity-shops