One of the ways that pet retailers can play their part during this National Pet Month is by getting involved with local schools and engaging with children directly about animals and their care. It’s a great way to raise awareness amongst young people of pet ownership, and to raise the profile of pet professionals in the local community. Hopefully it’ll be good for business too!

Here are some tips for pet retailers to help develop an effective relationship with a local school:

If there’s been no contact in the past, get in touch with the Headteacher in the first instance and let him/her know you are there

·                                 Offer free animal care advice and, if visiting a school, take in as many different types of pets as possible

 ·                                 Pitch a talk to the appropriate age-group and get details from class teachers about what they are looking for in a visit, so that you can talk accordingly

 ·                               Find out how many children you will be talking to and what type of room you will have if you are visiting the school. This will impact on the number and types of animals that you take in

 ·                                 Let the local newspaper know that you are visiting a school. Check with the school first, but animals and children make great picture stories and give you a local boost too.

 ·                                Tell us you are involved: if you arrange a visit to, or from, a local school during National Pet Month, log on to our website www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk and become a supporter. 

National Pet Month is running an art competition this year and is inviting young people to submit a picture or painting around the theme ‘A happy pet I know’.  We’re hoping that visits to or from pet retailers by local schools during National Pet Month will provide the children with some great ideas for their artwork, increase their awareness and knowledge of different types of animals, and provide a springboard for developing a mutually beneficial relationship.

The deadline for the art competition is Friday 28 May, and we’d like as many schools as possible will make arrangements with local pet professionals in that time.

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For further information about the art competition, please contact:

Alexandra Baker on 01234 273933

For further information and / or images about NPM, please contact;

Alison Glennon or Emma Tombling on 0208 370 3688 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or see www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk.

Notes to editors:

- NPM is a unique charity which brings together the work of animal welfare charities, professional bodies, pet businesses, schools, youth groups and pet lovers with the common goal of promoting responsible pet ownership whilst celebrating the bond between people and their pets

 - NPM is co-ordinated by three trustees:

-                                                          NOAH (National Office of Animal Health)

-                                                          Pet Care Trust

-                                                          PFMA (Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association)

NPM 2010 is sponsored by Argos and Countrywide

 - National Pet Month’s aims are to:

-                                                       -  Promote responsible pet ownership

-                                                         - Make people aware of the mutual benefits of living with pets

-                                                         -  Increase public awareness of the role of pet care specialists

-                                                          -  Raise awareness of the value of working and assistance companion animals