At Get Set Pet we’re passionate about pets and the welfare and protection of our best friends is one of our guiding principles. As a business we believe it’s our duty to support those organisations that share our values and in these tough times charities need our support now more than ever.

As household budgets shrink, some pet owners are choosing to go without food in order to feed their pets and others are faced with the heartbreaking choice of having to give them up. Indeed, ITV’s Tonight programme recently highlighted a 48% rise in rehoming enquiries to Dogs Trust in the past year.

With this in mind, we wanted to highlight two causes close to our hearts – the work of The Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre in Berkshire (DBARC.org.uk) and supporting local food banks.

DBARC.org.uk has been operating for over 50 years and looks after a wide variety of animals on a 13-acre site in Hurst, Berkshire. Staffed by volunteers, they do a magnificent job of caring not just for cats and dogs but also birds and small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs.

With demand increasing and operating costs rising, DBARC.org.uk need ever more funding and we’ll be announcing a series of Get Set Pet sponsored activities in the new year. In the meantime, there are many ways in which you can also get involved and to find out more about the work they do and ways to help, check out their website at DBARC.org.uk.

Alternatively, why not consider supporting your local food bank?  Organisations such as the Blue Cross do a fantastic job of supporting pet owners in crisis. Much of the aid they provide is distributed through human food banks and you, like us, can support them by donating food directly at your local bank (click here to find one close to you) or by popping a can or bag in the collection points at most supermarkets when you do your weekly shop.

When donating, whether wet or dry food, please make sure the pet food you give is a complete’ formula. By law, ‘complete’ formulas must meet all of the nutritional needs of a pet.  Also, as with human food, it is perfectly fine to donate food that has gone past its ‘best before’ date. The date is there for guidance on when the food tastes its best, after that date it will still retain its nutritional value.

As a small business giving back to our community is an important part of what we do and we hope you’ll join us in supporting those organisations that are easing the burden on pet owners in these difficult times.