A CHARITY that helps animals has been given a funding boost thanks to a partnership with a pet care company.
Purina has been helping fund veterinary treatments for families who are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
The scheme is administered by the RSPCA and £2,876 has been donated in the Thames Valley as part of a £75,000 fund, placing it among the 10 regions who have benefited most from the scheme.
The Better Together Fund launched a year ago and enables RSPCA officers to issue pet care vouchers to members of the public for specific urgent veterinary and pet care treatments.
The RSPCA says the cost of living crisis is one of the single biggest challenges for animal welfare right now, but it believes the work with Purina is helping to keep family pets in loving homes.
The charity’s new Animal Kindness Index reveals widespread concern among pet owners amid ongoing economic uncertainty, with four in five – 81% – of pet owners say it has become more expensive to look after their pets, while a third (30%) of owners are worried about being able to care for their pets properly amid a high cost of living.
Dermot Murphy, RSPCA inspectorate commissioner, said: “We want to keep as many pets in loving homes as possible in Thames Valley.
“But the cost of living crisis is one of the single biggest challenges for pet owners right now – as proven by our landmark Animal Kindness Index.
“That’s why our partnership with Purina has been so invaluable for keeping pets with their owners, and has offered a lifeline for hundreds of pet owners during this awful cost of living crisis.
“Our officers can offer struggling owners vital support with vet and pet care costs on the doorstep thanks to this partnership with Purina. So often, the work of our rescue teams is all about offering advice, education and support – and the Better Together Fund has become an integral part of that; making a real difference in communities all across England and Wales.”
Support from Purina is to continue – with the pet food company committing almost £150,000.
To date, the scheme has helped 868 pets – including 562 dogs and 306 cats across England and Wales.
Treatments delivered to pets using the vouchers have included emergency procedures, work for ongoing conditions and support for acute and chronic health conditions.
Calum Macrae, managing director for Purina in the UK, added: “We are delighted to be able to continue our support for the RSPCA by taking the Better Together Fund into its second year.
“We know how precious the pet-human bond can be and want to help keep as many pets as possible happy, healthy and with their loving owners, even during these incredibly tough times.
“It’s heart-warming to hear how the vouchers are helping RSPCA officers to make such an immediate and tangible difference for households up and down the country.”
Across England and Wales, pets helped by the scheme include a heavily matted dog with long claws seen by RSPCA inspector Hannah Nixon in Hampshire.
The dog’s owners were elderly and vulnerable, and were struggling financially. They knew their pet would need to be sedated to be groomed, which was not something they were able to afford – meaning they were “burying their heads in the sand” and the dog’s welfare risked paying the price.
Fortunately, with the help of the Purina-funded vouchers, the dog was sedated by a local vet and was clipped the same afternoon, and returned to his owners.
Inspector Nixon said: “We know times are tough right now – and we’re seeing on the frontline the impact this is having on many beloved family pets.
“Sometimes – as problems escalate – owners feel powerless to take action, especially when they know the price of treatment will be beyond their reach.
“I could see the owners had gotten into difficulty with this poor dog. Things had rapidly escalated and they were worried about the spiralling financial costs of helping their pet. They ended up burying their heads in the sand.
“Thanks to these vouchers, we could get the dog the treatment he so badly needed and get the owners back on an even keel. It was a real relief for everyone, and it’s all thanks to Purina’s kind support that dogs like this can be kept in loving homes.”
The charity has also committed £1.5million of extra funding to crisis measures , launched a new Cost of Living Hub and a dedicated telephone helpline; while its pet food bank partnerships continue to go from strength to strength.
Anyone struggling with the cost of living is urged to visit the RSPCA’s dedicated cost of living web pages to find out what help and support is available in their area.
