A new Pets at Home store is to open in Templars Retail Park, Oxford, this friday (October 31st).

More than 200 applications were received for just 23 new positions at the store, which occupies the former B&Q shop. The new store will be the second Pets at Home store in Oxford.

The £300,000 store will feature a Vets4Pets practise with an operating theare, digital X-ray facilities and laboratory.

It will include a hospital ward to provide treatments for a wide varierty of animals, as well as a grooming parlour and adoption centre, where small animals including rabbits and hamsters will be cared for until a new home is found for them.

Additional departments include an aquatic centre, reptile centre and pet village.

Area manager Alison Miller said: “Pets at Home is committed to recruiting from the local area and I’m pleased we’ve found a team of talented individuals in Cowley.

“They’re all extremely passionate about pets and can’t wait to get started.”

She added: “There was a strong demand from Cowley pet owners for Pets at Home to come to town and we’re very pleased to have been able to grant them their wish.”

The store’s new team have chosen Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary as their charity of the year.  The Stadhampton-based charity cares for abandoned animals across the county.

New store manager Vikki Philpot said: “They are in desperate need of support. They help so many different animals, they don’t just limit themselves to cats and dogs. They work tirelessly and they are so positive in the community. For me it was a no-brainer that we support this charity in Cowley.”

Lord Mayor of Oxford Mohammed Abbassi will cut the ribbon Residents at the opening of the store on Friday 31st October.