Annual Review 2003 Contents 02 Saving lives 04 ER for pets 06 Keeping them healthy 08 Thanks for your support 10 Making a commitment 12 A job well done 14 PDSA PetAid service locations 15 PDSA shop and fundraising group locations 16 Income and expenditure 01 A message from the Director General Every working day PDSA veterinary caseloads ensure they treat a PDSA’s ongoing commitment to staff treat, free of charge, more than broader range of injury and illness promoting responsible pet 4,500 sick and injured pets. All are in a year than many of their ownership was further emphasised animals belonging to the most private practice colleagues see in with a third year of the PDSA vulnerable people in society, people an entire career. PetCheck programme to provide pet who, quite simply, are unable to care advice and information as well afford private veterinary fees and I am sure that our founder, Maria as free health checks for dogs. who, when their pet needs medical Dickin, would be delighted with The charity also launched PDSA treatment, have nowhere else to what is achieved for sick and National PetCheck Week to raise injured animals in PDSA PetAid awareness of the need for pets to hospitals. I am equally sure that she be registered with a veterinary would not expect us to rest on our surgeon, and introduced a series laurels. She would certainly remind of new responsible pet care us that we still need to reach many information leaflets, supported more eligible clients and their pets. by a variety of media activities Savinglives So, I am pleased to report that in and promotions. 2003 PDSA opened a new PetAid hospital in Basildon, The Coco But the cost of saving lives is high. turn for caring and professional Markus Centre; began work on In 2003 PDSA spent nearly £33 veterinary help than PDSA, Britain’s another new PetAid hospital in million providing PetAid services leading veterinary charity. Bradford and continued to develop – a figure that is raised, quite links with private practice through remarkably, entirely by public In 2003 PDSA caseloads rose by 8 the PetAid practice scheme. Here, support each year. In order to per cent, reaching 1.2 million private practices make free maintain and expand PetAid consultations at the 43 PetAid PDSA-funded veterinary care services PDSA must continue to hospitals nationwide. And this available to the sick and injured successfully translate the public’s figure does not include the many pets of their PDSA-eligible clients. genuine concern for the welfare of thousands of sick and injured pets animals into an awareness of the treated free of charge through In 2003 twenty-five new PetAid charity and a growth in legacies, PDSA’s links with private practice. practices were introduced in smaller donations and other income. communities across Britain and, in Sadly, being hit by a car remains a first for the veterinary industry, There are too many groups and the most common cause of injury to PDSA joined forces with VetSavers, individuals to whom sincere pets resulting in a trip to a PDSA part of the Best Friends Group, to gratitude is due for friendship and PetAid hospital. But, from launch pilots of the Partnership support in 2003 for me to list them compound fractures to parvovirus, project and offer free PDSA-funded here. You know who you are, and I tumours to ringworm, foreign veterinary care to the pets of thank you. I also know you’ll bodies to diabetes, PDSA staff see eligible clients and a full veterinary understand why PDSA will be back and treat it all. No wonder PDSA service to fee-paying clients – all next year for more of your support vets and nurses say that their heavy under the one PDSA roof. for pets in need of vets! Case study One small puppy attracted worldwide media attention in April 2003 after managing to swallow an eight-inch-long kitchen knife. Jake, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy, was brought into the Liverpool PDSA PetAid hospital in Huyton where staff operated immediately to remove the lethal blade. Happily, Jake quickly bounced back to full health. His story received coverage not only in the national press in Britain but also in America, Japan and Germany. 02 03 Every working day free veterinary opened the forty-sixth PetAid PDSA-funded veterinary care to the treatment from PDSA PetAid hospital, The Coco Markus Centre, pets of eligible clients and a full hospitals and practices is available in Vange, Basildon to pet patients. veterinary service to fee-paying to the sick and injured pets of those This new hospital cost £950,000 to clients all under the one PDSA roof. unable to afford private vet’s fees. build and £100,000 to equip; it However, in an emergency, any has two operating theatres and four Roy Trustram Eve, Chairman, said, animal is given essential life-saving veterinary consulting rooms. The “Combining the charitable service treatment regardless of whether the purpose-built PetAid hospital and a value-for-money private owner qualifies for free PDSA benefitted from a most generous practice under one roof enables treatment – 24 hours a day, 7 days donation of £750,000 from the PDSA to utilise more fully the a week. Estate of the late Mrs Coco Markus. resources of these PetAid hospitals The PetAid hospital attracted a and maximises the veterinary care It takes a great deal of specialist notable level of public support and provided to their local communities. equipment and knowledge to offer captured intense local media The operational efficiencies and this kind of emergency service and interest, when it opened. new income streams this offers PDSA is committed to keeping its are key to funding expansion of PetAid hospitals up to date, In 2003 PDSA also arranged for PetAid services into new areas of replacing or refurbishing PetAid 25 private veterinary practices to significant need.” hospitals as they age. join the PetAid practice scheme providing free PDSA-funded In February Coronation Street star, veterinary treatment in communities William Roache, MBE, who plays too small to justify a PDSA PetAid Ken Barlow, officially opened a hospital. The new practices covered new purpose-built PetAid hospital in locations from Scotland to North Derby to replace old, outdated Wales and Kent. ER for pets facilities. The down-to-earth actor Providing a pet’s version of a took a keen interest in the new It is a key priority for PDSA to Casualty Department in locations PetAid hospital and was delighted maintain PDSA PetAid services in the length and breadth of Britain is to confirm that his interest in animal every community in which they are a complex but rewarding task. welfare began as a child with available on a stable, sustainable Meeting the enormous challenge is membership of Busy Bees – the and long-term basis. Rather than Jan McLoughlin, who was predecessor to Pet Protectors, close PetAid hospitals in appointed Director of Veterinary PDSA’s club for young people. Northampton, Southampton and Services in April, following the Bournemouth because of falling retirement of Gairn Ross, OBE. Jan PDSA is committed to extending the caseloads, 2003 also saw the is supported by Stoke-on-Trent vet, availability of free PetAid services launch of the Partnership project at Richard Hooker, who was to all those eligible for and needing these sites with PDSA joining forces appointed as PDSA’s first Chief veterinary help. In June 2003 PDSA with private practice to offer free Veterinary Surgeon in June. Case study Rabbits are known for their hopping ability, but when Kandi jumped out of his owner’s arms it all went horribly wrong. By landing badly, Kandi fractured his hind leg and it required all the skill of veterinary staff at the East Glasgow PDSA PetAid hospital for Kandi to make a full recovery. 04 05 PDSA believes that all pet owners PDSA National PetCheck Week in said, “Raising awareness of have a responsibility for the care and September. Nearly 700 private responsible pet ownership is an wellbeing of their animals. The veterinary practices joined PDSA integral part of the PDSA mission. charity is therefore committed to PetAid hospitals in offering free health Increasing general pet care helping owners keep their pets checks to pets and providing pet knowledge for all pet owners will healthy through promoting owners with advice about pet health. ultimately lead to improved health responsible pet care. and wellbeing for the nation’s pets.” PDSA National PetCheck Week was PDSA PetCheck programme launched by diet and fitness expert, PDSA delivers a responsible pet care In 2003 the PDSA PetCheck vehicle, Rosemary Conley, who firmly message every month through generously donated by Julie and believes that healthy lifestyles are informative leaflets and posters Robert Breckman, again toured the important for humans and pets alike. available from PDSA PetAid hospitals country, staffed by PDSA veterinary “It’s too easy to take good health for and PDSA shops and by post from nurses providing advice and granted and then not understand why the PDSA website www.pdsa.org.uk information on pet ownership and we, or our pets, become ill,” she The messages are also supported by Keeping them healthy free health checks for dogs. Over said. “So many ailments and illnesses extensive media and PR activity. 1,800 PetChecks were undertaken, in humans and animals are Topics covered in 2003 were focusing on diet, weight, grooming preventable with improved eating vaccinations and pet first aid. and dental care. habits and more exercise.” Ask the Vet In April the Blue Peter dogs, Mabel A free information leaflet, PDSA Diet The PDSA website www.pdsa.org.uk and Lucy, were ‘PetChecked’ by and Fitness for you and your pet, contains a veritable host of pet care PDSA Veterinary Nurse, Philippa written in association with Rosemary, information and advice, from Herbert, during an episode of the was available during the week.