Pets at Home has announced that its Pet Pals programme has now educated more than one million children across the UK about responsible pet ownership.
Pet Pals provides free educational workshops for children aged four to 10, helping them learn the fundamentals of responsible pet ownership through interactive games, activities and hands-on experiences. Topics include nutrition, exercise, grooming, play, friendship and creating suitable environments for pets.
The milestone of one million was achieved after another successful year for the programme, with 132,303 children attending Pet Pals workshops across six campaigns between Summer 2025 and Summer 2026. During that period, more than 184,000 places were booked across 51,801 sessions held in Pets at Home stores nationwide.
Dr Samantha Butler-Davies, veterinary director at Pets at Home, said: “Reaching one million children educated through Pet Pals is an incredible milestone and one that everyone involved in the programme is enormously proud of.
“For many children, Pet Pals provides their first opportunity to learn what it means to care responsibly for an animal. By making pet welfare education fun, interactive and accessible, we’re helping to inspire the next generation of pet owners and giving families the knowledge they need to help pets live happy, healthy lives.”
She added: “The continued growth of the programme, and the increasing number of children attending our workshops, highlights the importance of educating young people about responsible pet care. We’re delighted that so many families continue to engage with Pet Pals, helping us extend our positive impact on pet welfare in communities across the UK.”
