![\"IMG_0082\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/IMG_0082-690x518.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOur pets really are a miracle, aren’t they? They give us so much joy, laughter, love and companionship. And in return we love to give them the best of everything, from delicious healthy food and bags of great time together, tasty treats to the very best in vet care. But what happens to those pet owners who fall on hard times? Who can they turn to if their beloved companion is sick or injured? We found the answer\u2026<\/p>\n
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PDSA is the UK\u2019s leading vet charity. It exists to help the pets of people in need and has been doing so for almost 100 years. PDSA\u2019s vets and nurses care for the pets of the elderly, the disabled, and those facing the most difficult financial times.<\/p>\n
In the East End slums of 1917, a young woman called Maria Dickin volunteered to help impoverished women and children in Whitechapel. But it was the plight of their animals that moved her.<\/p>\n
In her book Cry of the Animal,<\/em> Maria describes what she saw:<\/p>\n ‘The suffering and misery of these poor, uncared-for creatures in our overcrowded areas was a revelation to me. I had no idea it existed, and it made me indescribably miserable\u2026How dreadful for the animal and the owner…The whole problem haunted me; someone had to do something to help. I decided it was up to me to make a start.’<\/em><\/p>\n The concept of the People\u2019s Dispensary for Sick Animals, now known as PDSA, was born and from there, Maria gathered a vet, begged the use of a basement and hung a sign that read:<\/p>\n Bring your sick animals. Do not let them suffer. All animals treated. All treatment free.<\/strong><\/p>\n Word soon spread about the place where animals could be treated for free and PDSA quickly expanded to keep up with demand.<\/p>\n Almost a century after Maria\u2019s vision was made a reality and today, PDSA\u2019s dedicated vets and nurses at their 51<\/strong> Pet Hospitals and 380<\/strong> Pet Practices work tirelessly to provide 2.7 million<\/strong> veterinary treatments. This helps almost half a million<\/strong> much-loved pets and brings peace of mind to around 300,000 owners<\/strong>. \u00a0In fact, no other animal charity operating in the UK right now compares to PDSA\u2019s scale and reach. That\u2019s mind-blowing!<\/p>\n Marion (59) had been undergoing gruelling chemotherapy for months when she suddenly developed septicaemia. Having pulled through, Marion believes it\u2019s only because of her beloved pet dog, Beau that she\u2019s still alive.<\/p>\n At one point during her illness, Marion was so poorly that she can\u2019t even remember the day her sister found her in such a state that she was rushed straight to hospital.<\/p>\n Thankfully Marion, from Edgware, London, survived the septicaemia, successfully battled breast cancer and has since been in remission.<\/p>\n However she believes if it wasn\u2019t for the loving bond she shares with Beau, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the outcome wouldn\u2019t have been so positive.<\/p>\n Marion said: \u201cI actually got Beau when I was going through chemotherapy and I think that she really did save me.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only thing that forced me to carry on and get up was Beau \u2013 feeding her and looking after her. When the doctors assessed me they said I was so unwell that they didn\u2019t know how I had kept going. I do: If I didn\u2019t have Beau looking out for me, I wouldn\u2019t have made it, I wouldn\u2019t be here today.\u201d<\/p>\n Now the tables have turned somewhat and its Marion who is caring for Beau, with help from vet charity PDSA\u2019s Hendon Pet Hospital. The beloved five-year-old pet has suffered her own ill health in recent years. She\u2019s had major knee surgery, a lump removed from her chest and endures numerous other problems, such as long term arthritis.<\/p>\n Marion said: \u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019d do without PDSA as they have done so much for me and Beau. When I found a lump on her I was really worried and all sorts of things went through my head but the vets at PDSA were so calm and good with us. Without them I wouldn\u2019t be able to have a dog and they have been an absolute lifeline.\u201d<\/p>\n We were lucky enough to meet a couple of members of team PDSA and when they explained to us how much they do for pets, we were seriously impressed. In fact, we were so impressed; we have nominated them as our charity partner and plan to help them raise lots of much-needed cash to help them continue their life-saving work.<\/p>\n PDSA Vet, Vicki Larkham-Jones, said: \u201cSaving a pet\u2019s life and knowing what a difference you\u2019ve made to their owner is wonderful, especially if their pet is their sole companion. But we can\u2019t continue our work without the help and support of the pet-loving public. PDSA receives no government or National Lottery funding, and it costs \u00a360 million a year to fund our vital service, so every donation counts!\u201d<\/p>\n![\"PDSA](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/PDSA-dispensary-690x525.jpg\")
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‘Have you ever suffered pain until you did not know how to bear it any longer? Animals suffer like that, only they are not able to say so!’ \u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n
Maria Dickin, founder of PDSA<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n
They Help So Many Pets!<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"OLBURY_NEW_DB51\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/OLBURY_NEW_DB51-690x545.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMeet Beau and Marion<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Pictured](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Marion-says-she-owes-her-life-to-Beau-690x834.jpg\")
Thursday, 31st October 2014. Picture by Ben Stevens<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPartners<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Vicki](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Vicki-Larkham-Jones-690x934.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow You Can Help<\/strong><\/h4>\n