Charity: PDSA
In an East London basement on Saturday November 17th 1917, a woman named Maria Dickin opened a dispensary for poorer Londoner’s to bring their animals for the free veterinary care that she realised they so desperately needed.
Maria’s dispensary became a huge success and as a result the Whitechapel basement was no longer big enough to carry out adequate care for the sick animals. Rather than branching out to other basements or finding a larger building, Maria designed, built and developed her own mobile horse-drawn clinics. These clinics were seen travelling all over the UK and soon became known as the PDSA (the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) and have since gone on to provide over a million veterinary consultations each year with over 500 qualified veterinarians in the 21st century.
The PDSA is now at the forefront of UK veterinary charities, providing treatment and care for the pets of those who are on housing or council tax benefits completely free of charge. The owners of these pets obviously love them enough to ensure that they stay healthy, but often cannot afford the costs of normal veterinary care. As opposed to paying veterinary fees, owners are encouraged to make a voluntary donation to the charity, but it is maintained that this is at their own discretion.
This animal charity is the biggest employer of private veterinary professionals (surgeons and nurses) and has clinics throughout the UK with a large number of charity shops and voluntary assistants.
‘Sponsor me Better’ is the PDSA’s programme for the public, offering them the chance to help pets with long-term illnesses. For a £5 donation each month the donor receives a letter from the pet they sponsor, a photo of them, an introduction to them, a certificate and regular updates. All this, as well as the knowledge that the animal they have chosen if being treated so that they can enjoy a happy and pain-free life.
Also, the general public can help the PDSA raise funds to help sick animals all over the UK in a number of different ways. Monetary donations made via direct debit from £10 to £100 help to buy the instruments, tables and medicines needed to examine and treat pets. Otherwise a legacy left in a will, purchasing from a PDSA charity shop, fundraising events (e.g. trekking, sponsored runs and skydives), raffles and prize draws all help to keep the PDSA’s invaluable service running.
Filed under: Animal Charities