Banbury based charity - Dogs for Good - awarded £30,000 grant

Banbury-based charity - Dogs for Good - gets £30,000 grant from Pets at Home Foundation

Pets As Therapy, in Chalgrove, and Banbury-based Dogs For Good are both to receive grants which will enable them to support more people across the UK through the addition of new therapy pets and assistance dogs.

The grants were officially awarded to the charities by The Pets at Home Foundation today, Wednesday May 12.

As Pets at Home celebrates 30 years of pet care, its charity The Pets at Home Foundation, formerly known as Support Adoption For Pets, has pledged to support organisations which help people through pets.

Pets As Therapy receives cheque from The Pets at Home Foundation. From L-R: Sarah Mackie with Lola (Labradoodle), Matthew Robinson with 30,000 cheque, Julie Edwards with Rupert (Goldendoodle))

Dogs For Good works to train dogs to help adults and children with physical disabilities and learning difficulties, as well as children with autism and adults with dementia.

Bringing trained dogs and people together to help them overcome specific challenges, the charity enriches and improves the lives of both.

Dogs For Good also provides advice and support to families who are looking to get a pet dog to help solve challenges.

The £30,000 grant will help 30 puppies start their journey to becoming life-changing assistance dogs to support children and families in need.

Cathryn Simpson, corporate partnerships manager at Dogs For Good, said: “We have a longstanding relationship with the Pets at Home Foundation, and this grant will go a long way to helping us train assistance dogs for the future, and continue our great work.”

Pets As Therapy was established in 1983, and provides visiting dogs and cats to establishments up and down the country where pets aren’t typically present.

The charity works with a variety of UK organisations including schools and care homes, providing people in need with forms of pet therapy.

With Pets at Home Foundation’s grant, Pets As Therapy will support 30 volunteers from 30 establishments in setting up for a lifetime of pet visits.

Matthew Robinson, national volunteer and events manager at Pets As Therapy, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive such a generous donation from the team at Pets at Home Foundation. We could not do the work we do without their continued support, and we can’t thank them enough.”

Amy Angus, Pets at Home Foundation charity manager, added: “We’re very proud to work with both Pets As Therapy and Dogs For Good, as not only do they do invaluable work to help improve the lives of pets, but people in the local community and across the country too.

“As we celebrate 30 years of pet care and giving back to local communities, we are really excited about making donations to allow these charities to continue the great work they do.”

In 2006, Pets at Home founded the charity The Pets at Home Foundation, formerly known as Support Adoption For Pets. Since then it has helped more than 1,000 rehoming centres and animal welfare organisations across the UK. In addition to its fundraising work, it also runs dedicated adoption centres in Pets at Home stores. The charity also recently set out plans to support people through pets.

To apply for a grant or make a donation, visit www.petsathomefoundation.co.uk/