Thank you for your support

Our Hertfordshire rehoming centre has now reopened, currently operating on an appointment only basis.

An incredible amount was raised towards the refurbishment, thanks to the overwhelming and generous support of animal lovers. Our new facilities include 20 kennels, 5 puppy pens and 29 cat pens, which include a mother and kitten unit. We also have indoor rabbit space and rooms for small pets.

Total raised includes estimated value of pending legacy donations.

Here’s how we've redeveloped parts of the centre so we can give the very best care to pets in urgent need.

1. Spacious new kennels will allow team members to spend more time with nervous dogs, helping them to learn all about the world. The new outdoor runs will mean dogs can enjoy being outside and have more time playing and being trained.
2. The enclosed grass areas mean that we can focus on safely socialising dogs who might need a bit more confidence and that all dogs can have more fun and time in the great outdoors.
3. New cat pens will give nervous cats a safe, private place to adjust and team members space to sit with them and help them gain confidence. Outdoor access is so important for keeping curious cats happy and healthy.
4. A new cat isolation unit crucial for stopping the spread of illnesses and allowing us to operate at full capacity.
5. A new kitten unit means pregnant cats and new mums will be able to nurse their young in peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the centre.
6. Reception with increased space for our Home Direct scheme. This important service rehomes cats and dogs without them having to come into the centre, freeing up valuable kennel and cattery space for pets in the most urgent need.

Rebuilding the lives of pets like Dora

The refurbishment will help dogs like Dora who was cared for by the Hertfordshire rehoming centre for almost a year.

The two year old lurcher was found as a stray and was terrified of people. She would cower in the corner of her kennel or panic and try and look for an escape if anyone approached her.

It took months of expert care and slow and patient training from the team at the centre to help her understand that humans were not to be feared.

Nobody knows what made her so scared, but her incredibly timid behaviour indicated that her past was likely to have been filled with sadness and neglect.

After 294 days of rehabilitation, she went to live in nearby Stevenage with new owners Alison and Peter, and Luca, a seven-year-old greyhound who the couple had rescued many years before. She has made huge progress, making lots of new friends and enjoying trips to the beach, and her loving, affectionate personality is shining through.

The new kennels will support nervous dogs like Dora by giving them an environment where - with help of the team at the centre - they have the very best chance of showing their true characters and improving the chances of finding a new home. Team members will be able to spend more time with the dogs, helping them to learn all about the world. The outdoor runs will mean dogs can feel the sun on their fur and have more time playing and being trained.

"It was very special to officially reopen the centre and we want to thank everyone that supported the appeal, we wouldn’t be able to do this without their support. We are delighted to have already helped so many pets at the new centre and look forward to helping many more, and their owners, in the future.

- Kellie Brooks, Manager of Blue Cross Hertfordshire centre