Salters were delighted to sponsor the PetSavers Charity Walk in the glorious Bathurst Estate in Gloucestershire, by kind permission of The 9th Earl and Countess Bathurst. Emma Sansom from PetSavers shares with us her account of the day:
The Autumn sun came out for 101 dogs (but sadly no Dalmatians) setting out on the PetSavers charity walk at The Bathurst Estate in Gloucestershire, Sunday 26 October. The keen canines were joined by more than 300 fundraising owners, The Countess Bathurst, and local BBC broadcaster Mark Cummings.
The en-masse dog walk raised over £1,000 to help support vital research into cures for the diseases that cause pets suffering.
The event, organised by Gloucester charity PetSavers, saw pets and owners complete their three-mile or six-mile walk, and the canine companions were greeted at the finishing line with a medal and a PetSavers goody bag, whilst their owners enjoyed well-deserved local refreshments.
Radio presenter Mark Cummings said,
“It was a great day with a superb turn out. Tyler my rescue lurcher made lots of new friends. I’m sure this event will grow every year and become a fun annual family day out. I hope people now really get the message about what PetSavers is all about.”
Lady Bathurst said,
“Dora and I couldn’t have enjoyed sharing our beautiful park more with so many other dog lovers. The Bathurst family have welcomed walkers, riders and dogs into these stunning grounds free for over 320 years, and so it was a joy to see such a show of support for this exceptional charity. Both Lord Bathurst and I – and of course Dora! – look forward to welcoming PetSavers back again, hopefully with even more attendance. Everyone who is lucky enough to own a pet should be getting involved in the work of this vital organisation by coming along and doing something as simple as a dog walk. We get so much appreciation and joy from our pets and by joining in, we can help others as well.”
Event organiser Emma Sansom said,
“It was fantastic that so many two-legged and four-legged friends took part for our inaugural Bathurst walk, and thanks to all those who attended for their support. Together we have raised funds that will help gain better understanding and even cures for animal diseases. After such a success we want to make this an annual event, thanks to the support of the Earl and the Countess – we hope next year even more pets and their human companions can join us.”
The dogs seemed to love their doggie bags full of treats, including Salters Dog Food and here are some highlights from the day:
PetSavers is a division of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, which exists to promote excellence in small animal practice through education and science. The BSAVA’s charity has invested more than £2 million into vital clinical research and training programmes over the past 40 years, which has led to some key scientific breakthroughs in the treatment of small animal diseases. Our patron is Gyles Brandreth. Further information can be found on PetSavers’ website – www.petsavers.org.uk . None of PetSavers’ studies use experimental animals, and they do not support work that involves them.