Economic downturn hits animal charity

The animal-loving team all work for the charity PDSA – The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals – at its Bradford PetAid hospital, the Jeanne Marchig Centre.

Staff from the veterinary team will don their hiking boots on Saturday May 14 to walk to the charity’s site on Greenhead Road in Huddersfield.

Over the last five years, the number of pets treated at the East Bowling centre in Bradford has increased by 80 per cent.

This rise has been fuelled largely by the economic downturn, according to hospital manger James Funnell, as more people have become eligible for PDSA services.

Mr Funnell said: “Pet owners can register for PDSA help if they receive housing benefit or council tax benefit.

“So as more people face financial difficulties, more households become eligible for PDSA services.

“The resulting rise in demand places huge strain on our charity, as many of our hospitals are seeing far more pet patients than they can comfortably cope with.

“The situation is so acute that we need to raise an extra six million pounds in the next three years, to replace three pet hospitals in areas of greatest need.”

To support his colleagues’ efforts and to help raise money for the appeal, Mr Funnell is embarking on a sponsored bike ride from London to Paris in August.

Last year he took part in a parachute jump. That challenge raised more than £1,500 for the charity’s funds.

Mr Funnell’s cross-channel efforts can be supported online – at www.virginmoneygiving.com/jamesfunnell.

The charity has posted more details about its broader fundraising needs on a dedicated section of its website – www.pdsa.org.uk/appeal.