Award-winning retail group Jollyes, which plans to open three new stores before the end of the year, has named the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) as one of its key charity partners. All of its 100-plus stores will be able to accept donations.

The NFRSA helps support the care, well-being, and welfare of retired service animals from across the emergency service family – the police, fire, border force, National Crime Agency, NHS and prison services. 

Retired service animals do not receive any additional funds to support their care and upkeep once they are retired and are also unable to receive meaningful pet insurance due to their age and training. 

The NFRSA aims to redress this gap in funding and support, helping keep retired animals with the families that have cared for them throughout their lives, who may not otherwise be able to afford the costs of their care, with financial assistance with vet and medical bills.

As The Pet People, Jollyes is proud to support the important work that the NFRSA is doing keeping these wonderful animals with the families they love as their years advance. 

Over the next 12 months, all Jollyes’ stores will be raising money for NFRSA through collection boxes in its stores. 

Customer donations will also be matched by Jollyes to maximise the work that the NFRSA is able to do in supporting retired service animals and their owners.

Images of retired service animals supported by NFRSA across the UK will be added to community boards in each of Jollyes’ stores with local service animals helping open new Jollyes stores as a guest of honour.

Jollyes’ most recent store opening at Monks Cross retail park in York was opened by retired border force detector dog Pablo. 

Pablo, 7, served in the border force on the Yorkshire coast for a number of years but ruptured a disc in his back requiring surgery while running, leading to his early retirement last Christmas.

Cheeky Pablo is now living with new owner Beverley Boynton and has become best friends with her four-year old cat Otis.  

Jollyes will open an additional three stores before the end of 2024 in East Kilbride, Leyland and Cardiff, with  help from NFRSA animals at each.

Leyland store will be the first to open on Friday 15 November with a formal ceremony the next day.

At 9.00am on Saturday 16 November, the famous Leyland Works brass band will play pet-themed songs for shoppers and at 10.00am retired border force dog Trigger will bite through a string of sausages to declare the store formally open.  

Trigger is a seven year old Springador who joined the Border Force in 2017.  Trigger served for three years, including at Manchester Airport before retiring in 2020 due to arthritis and is still lovingly cared for by his former handler Samantha.

The NFRSA aims to use funds raised from its partnership with Jollyes to establish regional hubs across the UK to support with local support and fundraising efforts for retired service animals.

NFRSA founder The Countess Bathurst said: “I am incredibly proud that the NFRSA is a key charity partner of Jollyes. 

“One thing that is incredibly important to me is that the NFRSA is a community as much as a charity, and that the pets and families we support all feel part of our family. 

“It is one of the reasons we are so perfectly aligned with Jollyes – because they are all about supporting their people and customers and making their stores a happy place to be. 

“Jollyes is growing at such a high speed and so are we – so there will be a wonderful synergy as we grow together.”

Jollyes chief executive officer Joe Wykes said: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with NFRSA and the amazing Countess Bathurst.

“We know from our colleagues and customers how excited they are to help the retired service animals the NFRSA cares for.  

“We’ll do all we can to get behind them over the year ahead.”