I am appealing for all pet lovers and PDSA supporters to maintain their fantastic backing for pets in need, despite the current round of postal strikes.

As the UK’s leading veterinary charity, we provides free care for pets of people in need, through hundreds of PetAid hospitals and practices throughout the country. With more poorly pets than ever to care for, we simply have to keep our services going, whatever obstacles we face.

Time and again, our supporters have proved not only very generous but extremely resourceful and determined to help our beloved pets.

So our message to them is simply: “please keep your support coming in”.

Letters might take a day or two longer but we will cope with that. Alternatively, people can contact us online or take donations along to their local PDSA shop.

Our PetAid services are funded entirely by charitable donations and help hundreds of thousands of sick and injured pets every year.

It would be tragic if they became the innocent victims of an industrial dispute.

Mike Crossley, director of marketing, PDSA