Next week Jollyes will take part in the first ‘National Service Animal Week’ to help raise money for the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA). The initiative marks the third birthday of the NFRSA on 11 May.

Founded by The Countess Bathurst, Jollyes partnered with the NFRSA late last year, introduced charity collection boxes across its 100-plus stores, with a commitment to match donations up to £20,000.

To date, Jollyes has donated £5,000 to the NFRSA and this week, the retailer will be participating in its National Service Animal Week to raise funds and awareness of the crucial work it does supporting retired service animals.

Since working with the NFRSA it has supported every Jollyes store opening with a retired or working service animal helping to officially open each new location, by biting through a string of sausages. 

And in keeping with this tradition, next week retired service animals will visit a number of stores between 10am and midday to raise awareness of the NFRSA’s vital work.

On Friday 9 May Jollyes’ Bedford branch will host retired police dog Quirky, as well as retired service dogs Billy and Bruno.

Jollyes’ Kings Lynn branch will be visited by NFRSA service ambassador Bev Graeme, as well as retired service dogs Zellick and Yogi on Sunday 11 May.

And on Sunday 11 May, Jollyes Chichester branch will receive a VIP visit from their local hero, retired explosives search dog Hugo.

Dog food wholesaler and fellow NFRSA partner Paw-Cura, will also visit these stores at the same time, offering advice to customers and giving away dog treats.

In addition, Paw-Cura’s Training Treat Snapp-Eez and Skin & Coat Snapp-Eez (which now proudly feature Lady Bathurst’s own beloved Labrador Copper) will be available at a special price of £1.98 instead of the normal £3.99, with a donation to the NFRSA from every pack sold, to help celebrate and support National Service Animal Week.

NFRSA founder Countess Bathurst said: “We are thrilled that our key charity partners Jollyes and Paw-Cura are giving their full support to our National Service Animal Week, which marks the third birthday of the NFRSA.”

“The NFRSA is a family, from the animals and handlers we help, to the partners who play a vital role in helping us to achieve our mission to ‘Protect Our Protectors’.  We are incredibly excited to welcome more of Jollyes’ wonderful shoppers into the fold to help us raise money this week.”

Jollyes chief executive Joe Wykes added: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with the NFRSA and the amazing Countess Bathurst and the work she does.

“We know how passionate our customers and colleagues are about supporting retired service animals across the UK, and we are excited to drive awareness and donations for the vital work the NFRSA does.”

Jollyes was named as one of The Sunday Times’ best big companies to work for last year, and this year won the Retail Week Award for Head Office Heroes following its highly successful raw frozen food roll out.