JUDE, Johnny, Pepper, Rita and Penny the kittens need your help.

The Blue Cross sanctuary where they are living has just launched its biggest ever fundraising appeal.

The Burford centre is asking the public to donate £1.5m towards a £2.5m renovation of its dog and cat rehoming areas.

Work at the Shilton Road site is already scheduled to begin at the end of the year and will include new kennels, with bigger,more comfortable accommodation and outside runs.

It will have separate dog and cat isolation units for new arrivals and sick pets, dedicated puppy and kitten areas, new veterinary facilities and a refurbished reception area where new owners can meet pets looking for homes.

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Centre manager Jenna Martyn said: “Our current facilities are out-of-date, but our new and improved centre will offer a much nicer place for homeless and abandoned pets to stay while they wait for new homes.

“The designs of the new kennels and cattery will minimise risk of disease and reduce stress, so the animals that come through our doors can find homes much quicker.”

Oxford Mail:

Kittens Pepper, Jude, Rita, Penny and Johnny are kittens at Blue Cross rehoming sanctuary in Burford

Last year the Burford centre helped to rehome 900 dogs, cats and small animals, but the plans proposed would mean the charity could double the number of pets it can help.

Kittens Jude, Johnny, Pepper, Rita and Penny are currently being cared for by the team at Blue Cross.

The six-week-old siblings arrived at the charity when they were just days old after their mother was killed by a car.

Luckily for them they were adopted by another of the cattery’s feline mums who was raising her own kitten.

They are now doing well and will be ready to find new homes when they are around nine weeks old.

Ms Martyn added: “Kittens like these will really benefit from the new facilities once they are built.

“Blue Cross is totally reliant on public support so we really hope the people of Oxfordshire will be able to support us.

“We will be doing lots of fundraising in the area over the next few months so do look out for us.”

Oxford Mail:

Lucy Carter with Jake, Hannah Bryan, and Tania Lawrence with Penny

The Blue Cross pet rehoming centre in Burford opened in 1990, and serves Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire.

It has facilities for dogs, cats and kittens, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals and is open to the public daily between 11am and 4pm except Wednesdays.

Blue Cross opened the world’s first animal hospital in 1906 and now runs 12 rehoming centres in the UK.

To donate visit bluecross.org.uk/Burfordappeal or call 0300 790 9903.