Burns Pet Nutrition has partnered with Cwmbran-based pet travel platform Dog Furiendly – a free-to-use travel guide that provides tips and recommendations for dog owners.
The one-year partnership will see the two Welsh companies work closely together to arrange communal walks and ‘virtual meet-ups’ for dog owners as well as provide them with nutrition for their pets.
Dubbed the TripAdvisor for dog owners, Dog Furiendly lists dog-friendly spots including pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels, as well as doggy events, to help owners plan walks and trips away.
As part of the collaboration, once pandemic restrictions are eased, members of the Dog Furiendly community will host monthly Burns ‘Lead the Way’ walks – a UK-wide scheme developed by Burns thT enables pet owners to organise and attend group dog walks in their local area, using the power of social media.
Burns will also become the official dog food partner for Dog Furiendly, providing the company with more than £12,000 of food and treats, which will be given in goody bags to anyone taking part in the walks.
While covid-19 restrictions are still in place and physical group walks are not possible, the two organisations will host virtual walks across social media, encouraging dog owners to enjoy individual walks themselves while engaging socially online.
John Burns, founder and MD of Burns Pet Nutrition, said: “Burns has been providing pet owners with quality natural food, advice and support for over 27 years now as part of our ongoing commitment to help pets and people live happy and healthy lifestyles.
“We love to work with organisations that share our values and could see a really good fit between the work we do at Burns, through our Lead the Way Walks, and the explorer walks offered by Dog Furiendly. We are real advocates of dog friendly tourism, having previously judged and sponsored dog friendly tourism awards, and love the idea of a TripAdvisor for dog owners.
“We are looking forward to Dog Furiendly hosting our Lead the Way walks across the UK with the help of their explorer community and can’t wait to supply goodie bags for explorers when the walks get back up and running. In the meantime, we will co-host virtual walks on social media and reward people for their efforts to be healthy and happy with their pets.”
Adele Pember, founder of Dog Furiendly, said: “We are excited to expand upon our long-standing relationship with Burns by welcoming them as our official pet food sponsor. At the core of both of our brands lies similar values to improve the quality of life for pets and their owners, making us a natural fit. Together we can combine high quality nutrition with healthy lifestyles and travel.
“Above all this, being able to work alongside another Wales-based company means we share a similar passion for this beautiful country. Our collaboration with Burns offers an elevated opportunity to reach and engage with dog owners across Wales and the rest of the UK in creative and innovative ways.”