Timeline

1917 - As the First World War raged in France, the doors of the very first PDSA clinic opened in a dank cellar in London’s Whitechapel. The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals of the Poor, as the charity was then known, was the creation of Maria Dickin CBE. Appalled by the suffering of both working animals and pets that she had witnessed while visiting the poor of London’s East End, Maria set up PDSA in order to provide free veterinary care for those owners unable to afford a private vet.

1921 - Within just four years, PDSA had seven clinics across London, between them treating some 40,000 animals a year. Maria knew that this was just a first step; she faced two pressing needs. First, to reach as many sick and injured animals as possible. Second, to educate owners in responsible animal care. Resourceful as ever, Maria hit on the perfect way of doing both: a horse-drawn caravan was transformed into a travelling dispensary which then embarked on a round-Britain tour. It was a resounding success. Inspired, Maria built up a whole fleet of horse-drawn caravans to serve communities throughout the country.

1924 - A year later, PDSA had 17 clinics across the UK, providing free care for 150,000 animals annually. Not content with this, the charity extended its work abroad. Soon PDSA was almost as well known in Paris, Rumania, Tangier, Egypt, Greece and Palestine as it was in Manchester and Birmingham.

1928 - PDSA set up the first animal sanatorium in Europe. The Ilford Sanatorium offered both a rest home for horses and donkeys and a fully equipped training centre for veterinary students. The Sanatorium played an important role in the work of the charity until 1973 when it was badly damaged by a fire. A modern PDSA PetAid hospital now stands on the site.

1934 - A milestone in the story of PDSA’s ever-growing success, 1934 saw the number of free treatments each year pass the one million mark for the first time. This was also the year in which Maria Dickin, ever keen to spread the word on responsible pet care, launched the Busy Bees, a special club for children. Busy Bees the length and breadth of the country were soon learning about how to look after their dogs, cats and rabbits properly, and were hard at work raising vital funds for PDSA.

1939-1945 - PDSA Animal Rescue squads helped to save and treat over a quarter of a million pets buried and injured by debris during the blitz. In January 1943, PDSA set up its Allied Forces Mascot Club for animals that served as morale-boosting companions for soldiers, sailors and airmen during World War II. Later, PDSA went further in honouring the courage and devotion of those animals that served alongside British forces. The Dickin Medal was established in 1943 to recognise animals that had shown outstanding bravery or endurance in the line of duty.

1951 - A sad year for PDSA. Founder and inspiration, Maria Dickin, CBE, died on 1 March, aged 81, after a life spent working tirelessly on behalf of animals.

She will be remembered as one of the great figures in the history of animal welfare, not only in the UK but across the world.

1952 - Enid Blyton, the famous children’s writer, became Queen Bee of the Busy Bees Club. So popular was she that over 20,000 new members joined in her first year.

1958 - Buoyed by the success of the Busy Bees, in October 1958 PDSA launched the Animal Service Guild, a new club aimed at older children.

1960 - To keep pace with advances in veterinary medicine and technology, PDSA opened its very first purpose-built pet hospital at Dunkirk Road, Nottingham in July 1960.

1967 - A notable milestone for PDSA as the charity celebrated its Golden Jubilee. To coincide with the 50th anniversary of its founding by Maria Dickin, PDSA moved headquarters from London to larger premises in Dorking, Surrey.

1971 - In a measure of the growing importance of its retail outlets, PDSA now had 15 shops dotted in High Streets across the country, each one making a vital funding contribution to the running of the hospitals and the treatment of thousands of pets.

1972 - Maintaining the long-standing interest of the Royal Family in the work of the charity, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra succeeded her mother as Patron of PDSA.

1975 - The introduction of a special ruling by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on 24-hour emergency cover, signalled the end of an era for the charity. As a result of the new rule, PDSA had to withdraw its Mobile Animal Treatment Units, more than 50 years after they first appeared on the streets of Britain.

1980 - In keeping with its reputation for being right at the forefront of developments in veterinary medical practice, PDSA introduced its first in-house training scheme for veterinary nurses.

1981 - To provide treatment for even more pet patients, PDSA launched a special Auxiliary Service covering those areas where there was not already a PDSA hospital. In 1987, the scheme was renamed as the PDSA PetAid Service: and operates through participating private practices.

1983 - Throughout its history, PDSA has been quick to embrace new methods of fundraising. A lottery draw introduced in 1983 meant that all types of mailed appeals were now helping to boost the charity’s income by significant amounts.

1989 - The need for more suitable office space saw PDSA relocate its headquarters from Surrey to Telford in Shropshire. HRH Princess Alexandra presided at the official opening of the new HQ in June 1990.

1992 - To mark PDSA’s 75th anniversary, a replica of Maria Dickin’s very first horse-drawn mobile dispensary embarked on a 900-mile round-Britain journey, creating awareness of both the charity’s history and its work in the communities of the present day.

1993 - In 1993, PDSA launched Pet Protectors club, for younger supporters. Fronted by Bandaged Barney, the club mascot, Pet Protectors soon picked up where Busy Bees had left off, and is still giving thousands of children and teenagers the chance to help PDSA and indulge their love of animals.

1997 - The completion of a brand new, purpose-built PetAid hospital in Bow heralded the return of PDSA to the area of east London where the charity established its very first dispensary 80 years earlier.

2001 - A TV documentary series, entitled The People’s Vets, was filmed at New Cross PetAid hospital. It aired on ITV and shared the day-to-day work of PDSA with millions of viewers.

2006 - Based in refurbished premises in Belfast, the doors to PDSA’s first PetAid hospital in Northern Ireland opened.

2007 - PDSA celebrates 90 years of caring for sick and injured animals.