PET charity Blue Cross is looking to ignite the nation’s Christmas spirit with the creation of the world’s first donations-powered Christmas tree.
The donation-powered installation is the charity’s bid to literally light up the season for the homeless pets in its care and when fully lit it will represent thousands of individual donations from all over the country.
The tree is part of Blue Cross’s ‘Action On Pity’ campaign that aims to encourage the public to take action on homeless pets rather than just feel pity for them.
The 2 foot blue-coloured tree has been decorated with fairy lights that will only illuminate in response to people’s donations to the charity in the lead up to 24 December.
It launched last week with just one solitary light, and as people embrace the festive spirit and donate to Blue Cross, more bulbs will illuminate – until the tree is fully lit.
Each of the lights on the tree represents 50 individual donations received by post from 24 November and when fully lit will represent 7500 individual donations which will help Blue Cross look after the hundreds of pets in its care this Christmas.
Max, an 18-week-old jack russell terrier puppy who was brought to Blue Cross after he was abandoned, returned to the charity’s Burford rehoming centre in Oxfordshire, joined by a horse called Banks who lent a hoof to help turn on the lights.
The tree also features 50 baubles, each one picturing the portrait of a pet Blue Cross has looked after throughout 2016.
People can see the tree in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0grfUQl738
