Pets at Home’s charitable arm Pets Foundation has handed a £40,000 grant to national charity Support Dogs, which trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

The money will be used to help it create a dog welfare area at the charity’s new headquarters in Sheffield. This will be used to fund washing and drying facilities, a mock vet consultation room to desensitise dogs and health check areas for the animals.

The funding has been handed by the funder to the charity to help with its expansion as it looks to meet a surge in demand for its services, with more than 30,000 people accessing its information online.

The dogs the charity trains are used for children with autism as well as people with epilepsy or a physical disability.

“This funding will have a monumental impact,” said the charity’s service impact co-ordinator Josie Brooks.

“It enables us to invest in quality equipment that will last for decades and give our dogs the best possible care. Fundraising for our core costs is an ongoing pressure, so a grant of this size is something to celebrate.”

Pets Foundation manager Sara Main added: “We’re proud to fund Support Dogs in creating a safe environment for the dogs that transform lives every day.

“The Pets Foundation believes in creating a better world for pets and the people who love them and the work Support Dogs do helps make a difference every day.”

The funder has previously supported the charity by training a specialist autism assistance dog for a young girl in Derby.

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