15th September 2008

The Pet Care Trust and British Kennel & Cattery Association are delighted to announce that a new kennel and cattery management qualification has been approved by City & Guilds/NPTC.

The Level 3 Certificate in the Operational Principles of Kennels & Catteries is a nationally accredited qualification and opened for registrations on 1 September. It has been developed with those responsible for the day-to-day running of kennels and catteries in mind, focusing on areas such as the care and welfare of dogs and cats, veterinary emergencies and first aid; and behaviour and handling of dogs and cats. The course comprises four core units and one optional unit and is assessed by written examinations.

Meriel France , Education & Animal Welfare Manager at the Trust said: ‘a qualification specifically designed for those in the kennel and cattery industry is long overdue. It will help provide those responsible for running kennels and catteries with confirmation of their knowledge and understanding, and offer a sense of progression to those working towards a supervisory role. An additional feature is the opportunity for those currently working in, or seeking to establish, re-homing centres to study an option on managing and supervising rescue and re-homing establishments’.

Although kennels and catteries already have to be licensed by their local authority, this qualification will help demonstrate the competence of professionals in this pet care sector. Further information about the qualification and how to register for the course can be found at www.nptc.org.uk or www.petcare.org.uk

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Press Enquiries:

Alexandra Baker , Communications Manager
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Notes to Editors

· The Pet Care Trust works to promote responsible pet ownership through our education programme and has 1500 pet care companies in membership, mostly micro businesses such as pet shops, grooming salons, kennels and catteries, colleges, wholesalers, and manufacturers. For more information visit our website: www.petcare.org.uk

· The British Kennel & Cattery Association is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust and represents kennel and cattery members by providing education, training and support. Kennel and cattery members of the Trust automatically become members of BKCA too.

· NPTC is the largest nationally recognised awarding body within the landbased sector and is part of the City & Guilds Group. It is a separate Company with charitable status within the City & Guilds Group but the merger has brought together all of the weight of the City & Guilds brand to back the established recognition and standing of NPTC within the landbased industries.