First ever in-store adoption centre

26.11.12

We’ve joined forces with Pets at Home today to launch the first ever in-store RSPCA adoption centre in the Pets at Home Stockport store.

The launch marked the first physical manifestation of a ground-breaking partnership between us and the Cheshire-based retailer announced in July.

Unique opportunity for animals

This is the first time we have opened an adoption centre in a retail environment and will provide a unique opportunity for us to find new homes for cruelly treated and neglected cats, dogs and rabbits.

The centre is complete with a living room area for customers to seek advice on pet care and adoption and to meet pets in a relaxed setting.

Our staff will also provide information about other RSPCA animals available for adoption in the local area.

Helping healthy happy pets find new homes

The centre has space to house up to four cats and four rabbits until new homes can be found for them. While dogs looking for new homes are brought in at the weekends.

This is the first of four centres planned across England and Wales.

Gavin Grant, CEO of the RSPCA, said:

The RSPCA and Pets at Home want to see happy and healthy pets. With ever more animals being abandoned and abused, there's so much we can do together.

I'm excited by the prospect of more rescued pets being rehomed and many more people being educated about better animal care and welfare.

Nick Wood, CEO of Pets at Home, said:

At Pets at Home, we are passionate about pets and their welfare. We’ve been working hard to develop Pets at Home and RSPCA joint branded pet care literature and ensure customers are making the right decision when introducing a new pet to the family.

The store in Stockport already offers services such as grooming, microchipping, free nutrition consultations, weight checks and a Companion Care veterinary surgery.

Working in partnership to improve pet welfare

Along with in-store adoption centres, the partnership hopes to achieve advances in the welfare of pets:

• From the number of animals rehomed, neutered or microchipped, both organisations have a wealth of information about the nation’s pets. This may reveal key animal welfare trends and data that could be used to improve planning, education campaigns and provision of services.
   
• Giving the right advice to potential owners, and only ensuring pets are rehomed to those that can take care of them is at the heart of both organisations' aims. This agreement will enable that message to reach a much wider range of people with jointly branded literature.
   
• Joint promotional work to give specific advice to people on the dietary and welfare needs of rabbits and other small pets.