PDSA launches £250,000 vet truck to boost animal welfare

A new £250,000 state-of-the-art vehicle designed to “revolutionise” animal welfare awareness across the UK, is to be officially unveiled by PDSA.

The vet charity says its new 18-tonne PetWise Mobile Unit, made possible thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, will enable them to treat animals and boost disease prevention.

It will be officially unveiled at the Family Pet Show in Manchester tomorrow (Saturday), before it hits the road touring towns and cities across Britain.

Rebecca Ashman, Veterinary Campaigns Manager at PDSA, said: “As well as treating pets in need, we are passionate about preventing sickness and helping people their pets healthy and happy.

"So our PDSA PetWise Mobile Unit is a major new addition for the charity.

"Together with our two smaller PetWise vans, it can revolutionise how animal welfare is promoted in communities up and down the country.

“From this vehicle we can perform minor operations, run vaccination clinics and offer free dog health checks.

"But its benefits don’t end there, because the truck can also open up to host classroom lessons for schoolchildren or even pet first aid courses.

“This dream has been made a reality thanks to generous support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.”

The new unit boasts two vet consulting rooms with oxygen facilities, moveable seating, a widescreen TV and built-in iPads so schoolchildren can take part in interactive educational games.

Hazel Johnstone, Senior Programmes Manager at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “The new PDSA PetWise Mobile Unit is absolutely fantastic and we’re delighted that support from players will be making a huge difference to animal welfare through this important project.

“Not only will it provide a mobile unit to deliver potentially lifesaving vaccinations and procedures, but it will also provide a modern, high-tech mobile unit for PDSA to educate the pet owners of today and the future.”

PDSA says the new vehicle will help tackle a major lack of awareness of animal welfare in the UK.

According to its latest PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, just 38% of pet owners are familiar with the Animal Welfare Acts, and, worryingly, a quarter have never even heard of them.

"These Acts of Parliament underpin everything that animals need in order to be happy and healthy. 

The new mobile unit will form part of PDSA’s larger PetWise on tour fleet, which now consists of three vehicles touring the country every year, dispensing great pet care advice.

Families and pet owners in Manchester can also get an exclusive preview of the new vehicle - and even get a free health check for their dog - when it features at the Family Pet Show at Eventcity this weekend.

For more information see: www.familypetshow.co.uk

PDSA is asking the people of Manchester to support their plans to build a £2.4 million Wellbeing Centre to ensure the charity can help Manchester pets for many years to come.

For more information and details on how to support PDSA visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/manchester or call 0808 164 5004.

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