Peterborough Pets at Home store launches new pet food donation scheme to help battle cost of living crisis

A Peterborough pet store is to spearhead a new community pet food donation scheme.

Pets at Home on Bourges Boulevard will be one of the first in the country to roll out the drive, which aims to support pet owners and their animals as the cost of living continues to bite. 

Launched in partnership with national pet charity Blue Cross, the scheme will see a community collection point situated in-store where anyone who wishes to can donate pet food to animal owners in need. Pets at Home will also be contributing to the drive directly by supplementing customer donations with vouchers each month.

Pets at Home Peterborough Store Manager Dale Wisson said: “We’re excited to be one of the first stores in the UK to launch the customer donation points.

“As the UK continues to experience a rapid rise in the cost of living, we know that pet owners will do everything they can to ensure their pets don’t miss out, but we also understand that some owners may be facing difficult choices as their finances become stretched.”

The store is initially seeking donations of dog, cat, puppy and kitten food.

Donations for small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters will also be gratefully received.

Pets at Home chief executive officer Lyssa McGowan said: “Blue Cross and Pets at Home believe no-one should have to face the difficulty of struggling to feed their beloved pets, and we know that our customers are keen to help out wherever they can.”

She added the company wanted to ensure “no pet goes hungry,” and that the scheme’s ultimate aim was “to help keep them [pets] at home where they belong, with their families.”

All items donated will be collected from the in-store collection points by Blue Cross and distributed to local food banks. 

Chris Burghes, chief executive officer at Blue Cross, said: “Pets are part of the family and we’re really proud to have partnered with Pets at Home on this scheme to have a positive impact on the local community in Peterborough.”

Pets at Home aims to have donation points within all of its 450 stores over the coming months. The collection points will remain in place for as long as they are needed.