Celebrating 40 years of bettering animal health
Derek Attride, chair of PetSavers grants awarding committee.
Research funder PetSavers is launching a new campaign - the "£200 project" - as it celebrates its 40th year of improving small animal health by funding research projects.
Previously known as the Clinical Studies Trust Fund, the charity launched in 1994 with the aim of funding research to tackle unsolved problems in practice. Over the past 40 years, the charity has given more than £2million to research projects.
Speaking at a press conference at BSAVA Congress today, Derek Attride, chair of the charity's grants awarding committee, says this is just as relevant today as it was 40 years ago.
The vision behind the project is for practices to become a "PetSavers practice" by raising £200 for the charity each year.
It is hoped this will allow the charity to become self funding and also raise its profile with clients.
Chair of the management committee Pedro Martin Bartolome explained that legacies are the charity's main source of income, which makes forward planning difficult. One of the biggest challenges facing the charity, he says, is establishing a regular source of income.
Sue Paterson, specialist in veterinary dermatology, says PetSavers allowed her to "fulfil a dream of becoming a dermatologist" by providing her with research funding.
Mr Attride says since this initial grant, Mrs Paterson has been a "major influence in the dermatology field."
A more recent grant from the charity has allowed her to conduct research on antiseptic treatments as an alternative to antibiotics. The results are expected to be published soon and Mrs Paterson says the team have seen some "fantastic results".
She will be running a marathon for PetSavers next weekend to give something back to the charity.
The charity is known for not supporting research that involves experimentation on animals. Major breakthroughs include research on the links between passive smoking and pet cancer discussed at last year's BSAVA Congress by Professor Clare Knottenbelt.
Outgoing BSAVA president Michael Day also conducted important research on anal furunculosis in German shepherd dogs with the help of PetSavers funding in 1991.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
