BLUE CROSS TREATING TWICE AS MANY PETS IN PANDEMIC
GRIMSBY CENTRE INUNDATED WITH CALLS FOR HELP
THE Blue Cross animal hospital in Grimsby has had a 60 per cent increase in the number of pets treated during the coronavirus pandemic.
For a year since the first lockdown began, vets and staff at the hospital on Nelson Street have been inundated with calls for help.
The cancellation of fundraising events has put pressure on the charity’s finances.
The cause has been the number of people going on to furlough or losing their jobs as a resulted of the crisis. That has meant they have financial pressures and have been unable to get veterinary care, except from the charitable animal hospital.
It has served the Grimsby area for more than 40 years and the current Blue Cross hospital has been a lifeline for thousands of families for 15 years since being opened by The Princess Royal in 2005. Hospital manager Robert Sturch said: “We are still here to help people who are struggling to care for their animals. We rely extraordinarily on volunteers and it us unbelievable the amount of support we receive in the community. Even with the pandemic they have continued to support us. They have done an outstanding job.” He told how it costs £1.5 million each year to operate the hospital.
A wide range of pets are treated at the hospital, from cats and dogs, to rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters, all receiving affordable vet care for the families who cannot afford private treatment.
The charity relies a lot on contributions. But Robert said the pandemic had caused even high-profile business people to seek their help due to low finances.
“Pets are an important part of people’s mental health well-being, so it has been essential for us to continue working,” he said.
Vets and staff treat around 100 cases every day in Grimsby. With the restrictions, additional procedures have been implemented to keep everyone safe when attending the hospital in order to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Staff do video consultations where they can. Vets will still see people and their pets at the hospital and a triage system is in place in order for vets to see those most in need of
treatment. “Using technology has been quite innovative, in order for pets to be diagnosed,” told Robert. There are always two clinics on and appointments last around 20 minutes from 8.30am to 5pm. Vets carry out around four to six operations per day. There are about 100 appointments each day. Robert said: “It makes you proud to see the wonderful service the staff provide and it is an honour to work with them all. “
He said one source of funds will be A Walk in the Dark when pet owners will be invited to go for a walk later in the year when restrictions permit, to raise funds for Blue Cross. In the summer, tea parties for pets will be held.
Staff nurse Emma Lilley said the team never have an average day. “There is every situation imaginable with everything from road traffic collisions to pets that simply aren’t drinking enough. We are an emergency service and able to respond 24-hours.”
She said: “We had one Staffordshire come to us who was anaemic. the staff thought it was so serious it would not make it and it was the end of the road. After the initial investigation and emergency surgery the owner was prepared for the sad news. But after two weeks of care he was able to walk out with his pet dog to lead a happy life.”
She added: “There are sad times when we cannot do so much. We provide a bereavement counselling service.
“We are proud that we have still been able to provide care throughout the pandemic.”
Floss, a whippet puppy was presented to staff with a very swollen lame front leg after playing in the garden. The vet diagnosed a frac
tured radius and ulna of the foreleg. Thankfully due to the health of the puppy and the nature of the fracture vets were able to insert a plate. It was removed in November and Floss has been like a new puppy.
The team regularly treat cats hit by cars on the area’s roads. Emma told how one arrived with a badly damaged knee but it was treated and able to return home.
Emma said: “We get quite a few cases of female dogs arriving with pyometra where the womb fills with poison which can lead to sepsis. “There can be quite a few cases of poisoning because dogs have consumed something they are not
meant to such as eating plant bulbs or chocolate.”
Blue Cross has an on-site charity shop which raises funds from donated items. It has moved online until staff are able to reopen to the public. The link for the charity online ebay store is https://www. ebay.co.uk/str/bluecrossforpets?_ pgn=2
The link for upcoming events for 2021 is at https://www.bluecross. org.uk/challenge-events
The team at the Grimsby animal hospital featured in ITV series “Inside Animal A&E” last year which was filmed before the pandemic began.