LEADING pet food company Burns Pet Nutrition is set to improve the health and wellbeing of rescue animals in Wales by providing pet food and donations to animal charities across the country.

The family-run firm based in Kidwelly, which already regularly donates its specialist line of natural pet food to over 40 rescue centres across the UK, has announced that it will this year offer vital support to Bedlington Terrier Rescue Foundation, as part of its ongoing Charity of the Year programme.

The Carmarthenshire-based charity, which cares for and rehomes Bedlington Terriers and their crosses, has been selected by Burns as one of its two charities of the year, joining West Cork Animal Welfare, and will receive a year’s worth of financial assistance and food amounting to over £50k in value.

The charities were chosen following an application and interview process. The collaboration marks the fifth consecutive year that Burns has run its Charity of the Year programme as part of an ongoing initiative to give back to charity.

Business Owner and Veterinary Surgeon, John Burns commented: “We are in a very fortunate position that, as a company, we are able to support causes in the community as well as deserving charities. I have decided that Burns should be a force for good.”

In 1976 Bedlington Terrier Rescue Foundation was founded by Barbara Butcher MBE and Phyllis Cooper. The foundation was established to rescue and rehome Bedlington Terriers and their cross breeds throughout the UK.

In the coming year Burns Pet Nutrition will be supporting Bedlington Terrier Rescue Foundation by providing funding to finance their innovative foster carer Training Scheme. The foundation does not house their rescues in kennels but ensures that each rescued dog is homed with a foster carer until a forever home is found. The new training scheme will provide foster carers the opportunity to work with appointed behaviourists to prepare the fostered dogs for life in their new home.

Frances Fuller, Director of Bedlington Terrier Rescue Foundation said “We’re really happy to be working again with Burns on this exciting project. They helped us celebrate our 40th anniversary at Discover Dogs 2016. It’s great that they are as enthusiastic for our training scheme as we are and we’re looking forward to now making this happen thanks to their generous support.”

Founded in May 1999, West Cork Animal Welfare was established to help unwanted, abandoned, neglected and abused animals in West Cork. In 2020 Burns Pet Nutrition will be helping them to continue their work by providing a monetary donation to help towards purchasing much needed items for the rescue centre.

Jennifer Headlam from West Cork Animal Welfare said, “We are absolutely delighted and thankful, for all the dogs, cats and kittens in our care, to have been chosen as the Burns Charity of the Year. We all know what incredible quality Burns food is and the benefits it will give the animals in our care, from tiny pups and kittens to older frail dogs. It is a massive boost to the West Cork Animal Welfare Group team and an honour to be the winners.”

In addition to its Charity of the Year Programme, Burns runs a number of grassroots projects including The Better Tomorrow Programme, which aims to engage and help young people to develop valuable life skills, and The Burns by Your Side reading to dogs programme, designed to help children struggling with literacy and communication. The company takes a proactive approach to giving back and has 8 full-time members of staff working in its community department.

Burns was founded in 1993 on the principle that feeding pets a healthy, natural diet is key to helping them thrive. Today, John Burns wants to use the success of the business as a vehicle for positive change. He is calling on companies of all sizes to support and engage with their local communities and charitable organisations as much as possible, stressing that it’s integral to maintaining and securing customer trust.