A veterinary practice in West Yorkshire is helping the community remember beloved pets this Christmas while raising vital funds for animal charities.
A Decade of Festive Giving
For the tenth consecutive year, Shearbridge Veterinary Centre in Queensbury, Bradford, has launched its annual Christmas appeal. The heart of the campaign is a Christmas Memory Tree erected in the practice waiting room, where clients can hang a decoration bearing their pet’s name and a personal message.
This poignant tradition allows people to honour the memory of pets they have loved and lost during the festive season. For every pet remembered on the tree, the practice will donate £1 to Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary and Yorkshire Cat Rescue.
Supporting Overwhelmed Charities
Veterinary nurse Sarah Hosty, who coordinates the appeal, explained the urgent need for support. “Cat charities are really overwhelmed at this time of year and in urgent need of help,” she said. “There seem to be more cats being handed in to charities, so we feel it is important to support two local charities who do so much for cat welfare and rehoming.”
The initiative is incredibly popular with clients. “Last year, we had 200 names on the tree and remembering pets is very special,” Sarah added.
How to Get Involved
The practice is also collecting donations of pet food, which the team will deliver to local foodbanks, providing a much-needed boost for pets in need this winter.
People can contribute in several ways:
- Visit the surgery in Queensbury to add a decoration to the Memory Tree or drop off pet food.
- Make a financial donation via the practice’s JustGiving page, accessible through the Shearbridge Vets’ Facebook page.
- Donate directly to Bradford Cat Watch Rescue via their website.
Over the past decade, the festive appeal has raised hundreds of pounds to aid pet rescue and rehoming organisations, demonstrating the community's enduring compassion for animals.
