THE FORMULA FOR HEALTHY, HAPPY PETS - ACCORDING TO PDSA

The UK’s leading veterinary charity, PDSA, has devised a simple computer-based formula, ‘Your Right Pet’, to ensure the health and happiness of pets. The four-step ‘PETS’ formula, launched online today (Thursday, 15 January) is designed to help every prospective pet owner consider the main issues before taking on any companion animal, from rats to retrievers.

“If people choose the wrong pet for their lifestyle, the animal is likely to suffer,” said Sean Wensley, Senior Veterinary Surgeon at PDSA. “But with this new online tool, you can find out quickly and easily which type of pet might best suit your lifestyle and circumstances. The tool represents a new and innovative part of our ‘Long Live Pets’ campaign.”

The four-part formula, PETS, is based on the key elements of Place, Exercise, Time and Spend. All need to be considered to ensure owners and their pets are well matched.

Place – which type of pet is appropriate for where you live?

Exercise – can you provide the type and amount of daily exercise required?

Time – can you devote enough time to your pet?

Spend – can you afford the lifetime expense of your preferred pet?

Stage 1 of the ‘Your Right Pet’ tool features a cartoon pet that will 'morph' and change shape as you answer questions, until the most suited pet for your lifestyle is revealed. Stage 2 provides more detail on different types of pets, such as expected lifespan, likely lifetime costs and how to meet that pet’s welfare needs.

Welcoming the new online tool, BVA President Mrs Nicky Paull said: “The British Veterinary Association is delighted to see this new initiative by PDSA designed to help pet owners make an informed choice before getting a pet.  We see this as making a valuable contribution to companion animal welfare and we would encourage anyone thinking of getting a new pet to look at this excellent site.  We would also advise consulting a local veterinary surgeon so that the prospective pet owner can be as well prepared as possible.”

As a working vet, Sean Wensley has seen many examples of inappropriate pet ownership: “It is not uncommon to see rabbits that are housed alone in hutches that are too small, with no opportunity to exercise, and fed a completely inappropriate diet that has led to painful and debilitating dental disease,” he said.

“Other animals, like reptiles and parrots, are taken on as pets with little or no knowledge of how to provide the living environments and diets that they need to be healthy and happy. As a result many suffer malnutrition and disease. All too often, vets are picking up the pieces of misguided pet choices and dealing with animals that are suffering because their welfare needs have not been met.

Sean continues: “Thankfully, the new Animal Welfare Act introduces a legal‘duty of care’ that requires all owners to ensure that their pet’s welfare needs are met. Our online tool explains in clear and practical terms what these welfare needs are for the animals that are most commonly kept as pets, so is a unique resource for prospective and existing pet owners alike.

“‘Your Right Pet’ is a key part of our ‘Long Live Pets’ campaign, PDSA’s biggest ever pet health initiative, designed to ensure a healthy life for all pets. This tangible, easy-to-use computer tool reinforces our messages about choosing pets in a highly creative and engaging way.”   

Visit www.your-right-pet.org.uk to find ‘Your Right Pet’.

Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, provides free veterinary care for the sick and injured pets of those unable to afford veterinary fees, and promotes responsible pet ownership.  The charity operates a UK-wide network of 43 PetAid hospitals, 4 PetAid branches and also works through some 349 contracted private practices (PetAid practices).

This year PDSA PetAid hospitals and branches will provide more than 1.8 million free treatments and more than 200,000 preventive treatments, such as vaccinations, neutering and microchipping.  In addition, more than 36,000 pets are registered for PDSA-funded veterinary care through PetAid practices.

In 2009, delivery of PDSA PetAid services will cost more than £50 million.  The charity is funded entirely by public support; mainly donations, gifts in wills and trading.

To be eligible for PDSA care, a pet owner must be in receipt of either Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit and live within the designated postcode catchment area of their local PDSA PetAid service. 

More information on PDSA PetAid services is available by phoning 0800 731 2502.

PDSA operates 179 charity shops UK-wide and is supported by 4,800 volunteers.

The charity asks that it is referred to by its initials, PDSA, in all editorial rather than by its legal name, The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals.

PDSA and PetAid are registered trademarks of PDSA.