A pet hospital for man’s best friend The Bow PDSA team can see more than 250 pets every working day and perform around 110,000 treatments a year, ranging from major life-saving surgery to treatment of long-term illnesses. www.pdsa.org.uk A helping hand PDSA Vet Care services are available to pet owners who receive means tested help with their rent. News A pet hospital, which provides a lifeline to thousands of local animal owners, hosted an open day in Bow, giving residents and their furry friends a glimpse behind the scenes, as Jessica Odubayo reports. Photos by Kois Miah. VETERINARY charity the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) offers free care for the sick and injured pets of people who may have fallen on hard times and those who are struggling to cover the cost of vet care for their pets. Families, budding vets and animal lovers were invited to the open day at the Bow PDSA PetAid hospital in Malmesbury Road, which threw open its doors to give visitors an insight into the centre’s work as well as fun activities for all the family. PDSA was founded in 1917 by animal welfare pioneer Maria Dickin and it has become the UK’s leading veterinary charity. It has a nationwide network of 51 PetAid hospitals and nearly 390 contracted private practices, providing free veterinary care as well as promoting responsible pet ownership. Alison Case, senior vet at Bow PDSA, said the day featured tours of the operating theatre and X-ray suite, p l u s f r e e pet health checks for dogs and fun activities for children. (Left) Cheryl and Max; (right) madcap cartoon duo and PDSA brand champions Roobarb and Custard; stalls at the open day It’s a dog’s life at the PDSA “It gave people the chance to see how a PDSA pet hospital is run and learn more about the charity’s vital work helping sick and injured pets,” Alison said. “Guests gained an insight into how pets get diagnosed, what happens in an operating theatre and how we help poorly pets recover after surgery. “There were hands on demonstrations and children had an opportunity to experience life as a PDSA vet.” The team at PDSA can see more than 250 pets every working day and perform more than 110,000 treatments a year, ranging from major life-saving surgery to X-rays and treatment of long-term illnesses. The event was also held to raise funds for the hospital’s charitable service, which does not receive any government or national lottery funding. Veterinary services at the PDSA pet hospital are funded entirely by public support – last year it cost £58 million to provide all its services which treated some 470,000 pets. “I didn’t realise how big the PDSA hospital is and how many staff actually work there. It’s very busy,” one visitor commented. Another resident said: “We really enjoyed the fun dog show and meeting other pet owners.” And another guest added: “I spoke to the pet wellbeing nurse about my cat, it was great to have somebody there to Above: George with Teri Top left: Visitors are shown a few of the ‘foreign bodies’ found Bottom left: Operating theatre tour answer my questions.” The event raised just under £550 towards the cost of treating pets in need. For more information about PDSA, and for expert pet advice, visit www.pdsa.org.uk Megan with Missy 1 – 7 SEPTEMBER 2014 N E W S F R O M TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 11
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