A local vet charity in Cornwall is set to benefit from a £1,000 Community Champions donation.

The Plymouth PDSA Pet Hospital provides free and low-cost veterinary care to sick and injured pets across the region.

Scott Williams, who applied for the funding from the Persimmon Homes Community Champions scheme on behalf of PDSA, said: “Our pets provide unconditional love for many vulnerable and elderly people will often be the only company they have. For so many people, their pets have been a lifeline during the pandemic, easing loneliness, providing comfort and companionship.

“At PDSA we’ve worked incredibly hard to continue our service and it’s vital that pets and their owners can access our life-saving services and get the treatment they deserve, when they have nowhere else to turn. 

“With 2.9 million more people claiming Universal Credit than before the pandemic and the cost of living crisis squeezing household budgets, we know that many pet owners will be unable to afford essential veterinary treatment, and need our help.

 “We are grateful to Persimmon Homes for this donation as with no government or national lottery funding, we rely entirely upon public support and the generosity of individuals, companies and charitable trusts who donate every penny we need to run our pet hospitals. This money will go a long way to helping much loved pets and their owners, many of whom find themselves in hardship and unable to afford vets bills.”

Jane Cartwright, sales director for Persimmon Homes Cornwall, added: “Animals mean so much to so many people and their pets are often all they have in terms of daily companionship.  With living costs seemingly continuing to increase, the work of the PDSA is vital in providing veterinary care when people are struggling to pay for it themselves, so we are delighted to be able to provide this donation to such a worthwhile cause.”