Retailer Jollyes has created its own ‘Pet Manifesto’ and will be sharing it with candidates for the upcoming General Election at new store openings this month.
Based on feedback from customers and colleagues, the manifesto features 10 actions the next government could consider in support of pets and their owners after the election has taken place. Actions include the creation of a ‘pet pension’ for retired service animals such as police and fire dogs, VAT-free puppy and kitten food and the extension of cat microchipping to other home nations beyond England. The full manifesto appears below.
Jollyes’ next new store opening takes place at Nuneaton’s Newton Retail Park on Friday June 28, the week before the election, followed the next day by the relaunch of its revamped Newcastle following a significant refurbishment. The Nuneaton branch will be the retailer’s 103rd in the UK and will include a frozen raw food shop-in-shop, with a community pet clinic to be added later in the year.
Jollyes is also launching a new nationwide partnership with the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA). All declared parliamentary candidates in Nuneaton and Newcastle upon Tyne (Central & West) will be invited to the respective openings, where they will be asked to support one of the key requests in the manifesto – a ‘pet pension’ to help support the care and welfare of retired service animals from the police, fire, border force, NHS and prison services.
Over the next 12 months, all Jollyes stores will be raising money for NFRSA, with collections matched by the retailer up to £20,000. NFRSA founder and chairman The Countess Bathurst will be the special guest at the Nuneaton store opening along with three retired Warwickshire police dogs.
Jollyes chief executive officer Joe Wykes said: “Pets can’t vote, but they too rely on politicians to look after them.
“That’s why we’re asking candidates right across the country to think about how they support animals that bring joy and wellbeing to millions of families and also give special help to those that also work to protect us.”
Countess Bathurst added: “Jollyes’ passion is for pets and their families and the NFRSA’s passion is for retired service animals across the country, so our amazing new partnership has the most extraordinary synergy and energy.
“Jollyes’ manifesto highlights all the opportunities that should be available to everyone who loves their four-legged friends. Our duty is to care for them at every level and I’m delighted and deeply grateful that Jollyes and the NFRSA are joining hands to make that happen.”
Jollyes’ Pet Manifesto
- Action to protect the animals who protect us – animals play a crucial role in helping services such as the police and fire service, but when they retire, their owners face increased medical service, vet bills and don’t have easy access to insurance. Jollyes is partnering with NFRSA to ensure the special animals that protect and serve should be given financial support on retirement.
- This week (June 10) it became a legal requirement to microchip your cat in England. Jollyes customers and colleagues support an extension of compulsory cat microchipping to all UK nations, not just England.
- The introduction of zero rate VAT on kitten and puppy food to help lower the cost for pet parents of a new four-legged member of the family
- An end to any ‘no pet’ requirements for renters. Jollyes partners with BillyChip, a social enterprise scheme that supports rough sleepers across Britain and they know many of them have pets. But getting into rented accommodation can be tough if they don’t accept pets. That was due to be addressed in the Renters Reform Bill but was dropped ahead of the election.
- Extend the legal requirement for drivers to report road accidents involving pets from dogs to cats. Sadly, a cat does not currently fall within the remit of the Road Traffic Act and there’s no requirement to report the incident to the police – cats are part of the family too and this needs to change.
- Lower vet bills – currently there’s no legal requirement for vet practices to display their prices or who owns them. Greater transparency about vet pricing will reduce prices for pet owners.
- Ensure all firework retailers sell silent fireworks. Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve can be traumatic for family pets – but not just them. They can cause PTSD for people who have been in war zones, they’re traumatic for some with autism and those who may have sensory issues.
- Ensure Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are fair to dog owners and allow them to continue to exercise their pets freely. According to the Kennel Club, over 200 local authorities have implemented PSPOs affecting dog owners and we support their request that legislation is amended to provide a way for dog owners to challenge the appropriateness of PSPOs in their communities.
- A fairer deal on home insurance for pet owners – over 50pc of us own a pet but some insurers cover the accidental damage caused by pets on home insurance, but many don’t. It’s understandable that insurance companies find it hard to assess the risk created by pets, but they could do more to make sure accidental damage is covered by transparent policy add-ons or different excess thresholds.
- It’s time to let dogs into all polling stations on election day – currently assistance dogs are the only animals that are guaranteed entrance into every polling station, but dogs encourage democratic participation as many combine voting and taking their dog for a walk.
