Funding worth £170,000 is still available for pet care organisations as part of Nestle Purina’s annual BetterWithPets Prize.
Applications for the €200,000 fund pot are open until September 12 for organisations that improve the health and wellbeing of people in vulnerable situations through the pet-human bond. Entries will be judged by an expert panel against criteria such as the applicants’ mission, innovation, impact and organisational structures.
This year, Purina is especially interested in hearing from organisations who work with assistance dogs to support those with physical or mental conditions, those who offer animal-assisted therapies, and groups providing pet companionship for the elderly.
First launched in 2018, the BetterWithPets Prize has helped previous winners from the UK to grow and support even more individuals in their communities, including Pets as Therapy which facilitates pet visits to hospitals, schools and prisons to provide a mental health boost to communities, and StreetVet, which provides veterinary care for the pets of people experiencing homelessness.
Jade Statt, co-director at StreetVet, said: “Through the BetterWithPets Prize, we were able to fund and start the project, and the Prize also gives you access to a community of like-minded organisations and Purina’s valuable expertise.”
Calum Macrae, Regional Director of Purina UK&I, added: “We know there is magic in the pet-human bond that can affect positive change in the world around us. We’ve seen firsthand how inspiring and life-changing the work of our partners is, and we hope to support even more brilliant organisations through this next edition of the BetterWithPets Prize.”
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