Animal charities

[JudyN]

My mother-in-law passed away very recently... the funeral will be 'flowers from family only', with requests for a charity donation from others. OH and his sister have decided that MIL would have wanted to support an animal charity, and are wondering which one to suggest. She loved cats and dogs, and when she lived in Greece often donated to a local charity that would spay & neuter street dogs.

We are looking for a fairly large organisation that will be familiar to most people. It should be national/international or (maybe) local to Leicester, where she lived, and benefit both cats and dogs.

We're thinking of the PDSA - any other suggestions for worthy charities please? The RSPCA springs to mind but I know there are strong feelings against some of their practices so maybe best avoided...

A few days before she passed, when she was ill in hospital, she told my sister-in-law that she'd been having dreams about their old family dogs, Bill and Tramp. That got me blubbing, that did!

 

[JoanneF]

It's tough, there are so many and I think a lot of people want the charity to be big enough to have some clout but not so big that the donation isn't appreciated or is just absorbed into running costs.

I dont know if they fit the criteria well enough but amongst my favourites are CARIAD which is the charity fighting puppy farming, and the Cinnamon Trust which offers walking and fostering for people who are temporarily unable to care for their pets because of illness or similar problems.

 

[Kara 1]

Rescue Remedies rehomes cats and dogs and offers help to most breeds that no other recsue will help ...mainly Bulbreeds xx
They are based nr gatwick but rehome all over the uk

 

[Ragsysmum]

I'd try to donate to one of the smaller charities that struggle more if you can.

 

[houseof_fraser]

The Cinnamon Trust are brilliant as they help elderly or terminally ill people to keep their pets by walking and caring for them at times when the person cannot do it themselves. They even care for the dogs whilst the owner is in hospital etc. You can find out more about them by searching The Cinnamon Trust on Google.

 

[JudyN]

Thanks for all suggestions - just to let you know that OH and his sister decided on the PDSA

I also made a donation to the Cat Protection League today in memory of Monty - not being a spiritual sort, the idea was that I'd donate the difference in cost between a simple cremation and having his ashes returned in a fancy casket, though I accidentally rounded it up a bit

 

[merlina]

I think virtually any animal charity is a great way to honour a loved one, and PDSA (and Blue Cross) do brilliant work at combating suffering and let people with limited means have the comfort of a pet. In my lovely vet's waiting room last year a desperate couple came in. They had a terminally ill dog (JRT) waiting with a family member outside. They had been told by another vet that they should let the dog go that day but the practise didn't do payment plans- and they didn't have enough cash. Needless to say my wonderful friend's practise took them in and did what was necessary. But the owner's distress was something I won't forget in a long time.

 

[JoanneF]

I think virtually any animal charity is a great way to honour a loved one, and PDSA (and Blue Cross) do brilliant work at combating suffering and let people with limited means have the comfort of a pet. In my lovely vet's waiting room last year a desperate couple came in. They had a terminally ill dog (JRT) waiting with a family member outside. They had been told by another vet that they should let the dog go that day but the practise didn't do payment plans- and they didn't have enough cash. Needless to say my wonderful friend's practise took them in and did what was necessary. But the owner's distress was something I won't forget in a long time.

How awful for them, that's so sad. I'm glad your friend stepped up - you would think in the interest of the animal, to let it go from it's suffering, that the first vet could have done something.

 

[Kara 1]

My friends mums mastiff developed bloat a few months ago ...she rushed him to her usual vet practice....they confirmed bloat and said he would die without treatment. ..they told her the estimated cost was over £4,500 + her insurance was £3,500 and because she couldnt give them the extra £1,000 there and then they refused to treat him ...she got all 10 stone of him into her car and went around the corner to the PDSA ...they treated him immediately
The vets excuse was they provide treatment and people dont pay above the insurance. ....she had been a customer for 20 yrs

 

[JoanneF]

I know they are businesses but you would expect some compassion. Awful.