The Pet Charity, which aims to promote the joy and benefits pets have on society, is launching in the UK with the objective of commissioning research projects that demonstrate the positive impact of pets.

To demonstrate the health and wellbeing pets can bring to society, The Pet Charity will commission research in order to promote pet ownership and thereby increase the number of pet-owning households and pet populations in the UK today.

This research will help develop the charity’s lobbying and campaigning strategies as it seeks to run programmes as diverse as encouraging pets in schools and care homes, and permitting ownership under tenancy agreements.

Board members for The Pet Charity have experience in animal welfare, health research and charity governance, supported by notable appointments from industry bodies. This will ensure the work of the charity gains support from both the pet owning and non-pet owning public, alongside commercial organisations and businesses.

Collaboration is a key theme for The Pet Charity and it welcomes the opportunity to work with existing charities and industry bodies, many of whom have long supported charitable activity.  Alongside this, The Pet Charity will be helping to guide and educate the public in selecting the right pet for their lifestyle.

Paul Miley, Chairman, for The Pet Charity, says: “The pet industry is a vibrant and developing part of the UK’s GDP but, more importantly, it is pets that are at the centre of many families, and we believe now is the time to make a bigger impact with the public.

"In arguing for pet owning backed by the research that demonstrates it is good for us, and of course always educating the public to meet the needs of their pets, we see at long last the industry has a cause which it can support.

“Pets enrich our lives, and robust research has demonstrated that pet ownership is of enormous value to the community. On average, older people with pets make 21% fewer visits to their doctor, whilst children benefit from a stronger immune system if they own a pet.”

The work of The Pet Charity will be combined with a media strategy, which will position it as the ‘go to’ charity for positive pet stories in order to promote pet keeping throughout the UK. 

For more information visit www.thepetcharity.org.uk