VETS are offering free health checks for dogs across Trafford this month.
Leading vet charity, PDSA, will return to the borough later this month to provide free health 'MOTs' to our four-legged friends.
It's part of the charity's mission to "help every pet enjoy a happy and healthy life".
The charity's PetWise tour is travelling across the UK and will arrive in Trafford on Tuesday, July 24.
Dogs can enjoy their daily constitutionals at Turn Moss and benefit from a check-up with one of the qualified vet nurses stationed at the playing fields from 10am to 5pm.
The vets will also be offering 'MOTs' at Firsway Playing Fields car park in Sale (Wednesday, July 25), Gorsehill Park in Stretford (Thursday, July 26) and Partington Shopping Centre (Friday, July 27).
PDSA Vet Nurse Kylie Jones said: “We would love to catch up on the progress of all the dogs we saw on our last visit, and meet any that didn’t manage to get to us. We expect to be busy, so we advise pet owners to call and make an appointment.
"By offering free, friendly advice and support, we can help owners make small changes that often make big differences to the wellbeing of pets in Trafford.”
The vet nurses will deliver PDSA’s specially developed MOT for every dog, which assesses the five elements pets need to be healthy and happy, known as the welfare needs.
The MOT takes into consideration a dog's diet, environment, companionship, behaviour and health. A simple traffic light system gives each pet a score, and a personalised action plan to help owners improve their pet’s wellbeing.
Additional services including nail clipping, ear cleaning and microchipping (which is now a legal requirement for all dogs) are also available free of charge, although donations are welcome.
Cats Protection neutering vouchers are also available.
PDSA is on a mission to improve the life of all pets through preventive care, emergency treatment and education.
Last year, nearly 3,000 PetWise MOTs were completed, resulting in improvements to local dogs’ health and welfare. For instance, there was an eight per cent increase in dogs that were neutered after PDSA’s first visit, which has important health benefits as well as preventing unwanted litters.
However, the charity said there is still room for improvement.
The charity said a third of the Trafford dogs (33 per cent) who had a 'MOT' last year showed signs of behavioural problems.
The vet nurses also expressed concern after more than half the borough's dogs seen during last year’s tour (55 per cent) were not wearing an ID tag, despite it being a legal requirement.
PDSA have been helping pets and changing lives for 100 years. In that time the charity has helped more than 20 million pets and provided over 100 million treatments.
A PDSA vet nurse will be on board one of the charity’s PetCheck vehicles at the following locations in Trafford, from 10am to 5pm:
• Tuesday, July 24 – Turnmoss Playing Fields, Turn Moss Road, Stretford
• Wednesday, July 25 – Firsway Playing Fields car park, Sale
• Thursday, July 26 – Gorsehill Park, Talbot Road, Stretford
• Friday, July 27 – Partington Shopping Centre, Central Road, Partington
Appointments should be booked in advance by calling 01952 797306.
PDSA’s PetCheck vehicle will return to the area later in the year. More information is available on PDSA’s website at www.pdsa.org.uk/petcheck.
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