PET WELFARE PARTNERSHIP FOR BATTERSEA DOGS & CATS HOME
7 years ago 
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Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has announced a new partnership with a leading veterinary organisation to help support the thousands of people who rehome its animals each year.
The charity has joined forces with Vets4Pets and Companion Care, who will offer everyone who adopts a dog or cat free vaccinations for the life of their pet, through its Vac4life health plan.
It means every cat and dog leaving Battersea Dogs & Cats Home will have the option of free annual booster vaccinations for the rest of their lives, protecting them against common conditions including distemper, parvovirus and leptospirosis and feline leukaemia virus.
Battersea’s Deputy Chief Executive, Peter Laurie, said: “Together, we want to ensure that dogs and cats are as safe, happy and healthy as possible when they’re at home with their loving new owners.
“We’re so pleased to be working with Vets4Pets and Companion Care and their many surgeries around the UK to support new owners. It’s only the start of what we hope will be a long-term partnership.”
New figures revealed approximately 25% of dogs and 35% of cats received no vaccinations when they were young, while one third of pets do not receive an annual booster vaccination.
Battersea ensures every animal that comes through its doors has its first round of vaccinations before they leave. The Home recently cared for three Husky puppies who arrived at the charity’s London centre without ever visiting a vet.
Peter added: “These three lovely Husky pups, Silver, Sky Wolf and Luna, are a really good example of why it’s so important to vaccinate your pets early. Because they weren’t vaccinated and their risk of getting a contagious disease was so high, they’d never really been outside or met other dogs, so were very nervous and under socialised.
“Luckily all three quickly adapted and we vaccinated them as soon as possible so they could start living like real dogs. They all found loving new homes.”
Vets4Pets and Companion Care, who will be working with MSD Animal Health to supply the vaccines, will also offer a free veterinary consult to every owner rehoming a pet from Battersea, which can be carried out at any of their 438 UK practices.
Julie Ross, commercial director at Vets4Pets, said: “Vaccinations play a key part in helping to reduce rates of some particularly serious diseases, and we’re delighted to be working with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home on this partnership.
“Providing a free Vac4Life health plan to pets leaving Battersea is another initiative to help them enjoy a fun and healthy life.
“We actively promote responsible pet ownership and will work with Battersea to take this message to current and new pet owners, and continue to improve pet welfare across the UK.
“Anyone thinking of rehoming a pet from Battersea can find further information about the partnership at www.vets4pets.com/battersea.”
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