BSAVA PetSavers marks 50th anniversary
The fund supports veterinary surgeons, nurses and academics with companion animal research.
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (BSAVA) grant fund, BSAVA PetSavers, is celebrating 50 years of funding surgical and medical research.
The organisation was founded in 1974 by BSAVA members as the Clinical Studies Trust Fund, and funds studies into unsolved companion animal surgical and medical problems.
It awards grants to researchers from universities, practices and organisations, supporting veterinary surgeons, nurses and academics with advancing clinical investigations into pet medicine and surgery.
The fundraising and grant awarding body has since contributed to developments in small animal veterinary medicine, by supporting researchers seeking to improve veterinary knowledge and advance clinical practice. This has included the funding of veterinary residencies, master’s degrees and PhDs.
Since BSAVA PetSavers started it has funded over 300 research projects, totalling approximately £2.7 million.
The organisation is funded entirely by charitable donations, and receives none of the BSAVA membership fee.
It is therefore encouraging supporters to help it fundraise with its PetSavers Gold Star fundraising challenge, which invites people to choose an activity from BSAVA PetSavers’ list to raise money.
The group has also organised a walking challenge on Saturday 11 May. The sponsored guided walking challenge will take place on the Malverns, in Herefordshire, and will take in all of the main summits.
BSAVA PetSavers are hosting a stand at BSAVA Congress 2024. It will be holding an eco-bike pedal power challenge, where participants can raise money for the fund, as well as having the chance to win a spa day and afternoon tea.
Sarah Williams, grant awarding and fundraising manager for BSAVA PetSavers, said: “We’re enormously grateful to our alumni and supporters, without whom we would not be able to fund or carry out vital research into veterinary diseases to improve pet health and wellbeing.
“So, it’s very fitting that we get together and celebrate our 50th anniversary milestone with them and look forward to the next 50 years of BSAVA PetSavers.”
Image © BSAVA
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
