Retailer Jollyes has officially launched a charity fundraising campaign to support the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA).
Over the next 12 months, all Jollyes’ stores will be raising money for NFRSA through collection boxes in its stores. Customer donations will also be matched by Jollyes up to a maximum of £20,000.
The NFRSA helps support the care, well-being, and welfare of retired service animals from across the emergency service family – the police, fire, border force, National Crime Agency, NHS and prison services. Retired service animals do not receive any additional funds to support their care and upkeep once they are retired, and are also unable to receive meaningful pet insurance due to their age and training.
The NFRSA aims to use funds raised from its partnership with Jollyes to establish regional hubs across the UK to support local fundraising efforts for retired service animals.
NFRSA founder The Countess Bathurst said: “I am incredibly proud that the NFRSA is a key charity partner of Jollyes.
“One thing that is incredibly important to me is that the NFRSA is a community as much as a charity, and that the pets and families we support all feel part of our family.
“It is one of the reasons we are so perfectly aligned with Jollyes – because they are all about supporting their people and customers and making their stores a happy place to be.”
Jollyes has partnered with NFRSA at the launch of new stores this year, most recently at the Monks Cross retail park in York where the new store was opened by retired border force detector dog Pablo. The retailer will open an additional three stores before the end of 2024 – in East Kilbride, Leyland (Lancashire) and Cardiff – with help from NFRSA animals at each. The Leyland branch will be formally opened on Saturday November 16, with East Kilbride and Cardiff stores following on Saturday November 30.
Jollyes chief executive officer Joe Wykes added: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with NFRSA and the amazing Countess Bathurst.
“We know from our colleagues and customers how excited they are to help the retired service animals the NFRSA cares for. We’ll do all we can to get behind them over the year ahead.”
