Purina has opened applications for its BetterwithPets Prize (BWPP). The new edition of the Prize will identify and support organisations across Europe that harness the power of the pet-human bond, and this year has a new focus on improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and/or society at large. 

The winning organisation(s) will win a grant of up to £175,000 (€200,000) over a two-year period. The total prize fund may go to one organisation or be shared between a number of entrants and will provide crucial funding and resources to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals, pets and their communities.

All participants (successful or not) will be invited to collaborate, share best practices, foster initiatives, network, and fundraise - all to build knowledge, scale impact and demonstrate how health and wellbeing can be improved by harnessing the power of the pet-human bond. 

The BetterwithPets Prize initiative is part of Purina’s new commitment to help 1 million people in vulnerable situations improve their health and wellbeing through the power of the pet human bond by 2030. Purina recognises it cannot achieve this commitment alone and so is encouraging organisations to enter the Prize and join the community to make a difference.

To help raise awareness of the BetterwithPets Prize and encourage organisations harnessing the power of the pet-human bond to apply, Purina has partnered with Dr Amit Patel, a qualified doctor, best-selling author, and disability rights campaigner. Amit is registered severely sight impaired (blind), having lost his sight to keratoconus in 2013. He has a close relationship with his guide dog, Kika, and is hugely passionate about the power of the pet-human bond.

Calum Macrae, Regional Director of Purina UK&I, said: “We know there is strength in the pet-human bond and that it has the power to be a positive force for change in society. We are proud of what we have achieved so far through the BetterWithPets Prize but know there is more to be done and so urge organizations or social enterprises working to support people in vulnerable situations by the power of the pet-human bond, to apply for the Prize and join this community.”

Purina launched the BetterwithPets Prize back in 2018. Previous UK winners include StreetVet, which was awarded the resources to develop their first accredited hostel scheme to provide shelters for homeless people and their pets at the height of the pandemic when accommodation for the homeless was a key issue. A grant was also previously awarded to UK charity Medical Detection Dogs, which trains dogs to detect human disease with the aim of developing faster, more efficient and less invasive diagnostics that lead to better patient outcomes.

Applications for Purina’s BetterwithPets Prize are open until 3 March (23:59 CET). For further details on the application process, eligibility criteria as well as the terms and conditions, please visit the website here.