StreetVet, the UK charity that delivers free veterinary services to dogs owned by the homeless, has been shortlisted for the Purina BetterwithPets Prize for its proposed Accredited Hostel Scheme.
The UK-wide charity helps keep Big Issue vendors’ animal companions healthy on the streets.
According to Vet Surgeon News, the BetterwithPets Prize invites entries from entrepreneurs whose work focuses on the power of the pet-human bond and whose efforts are helping to transform society. Purina runs the prize in collaboration with Ashoka, a pioneer in the field of social entrepreneurship.
StreetVet’s Accredited Hostel Scheme offers free, accessible veterinary care for pets whose owners are experiencing homelessness and support for hostel managers and staff to adopt and implement positive pet policies.
StreetVet was shortlisted from 150 applicants from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
The charity was founded by vets Jade Statt and Sam Joseph in 2016.
In its entry on Ashoka ChangeMakers, StreetVet said its local teams of volunteers currently outreach weekly in 16 locations (with more planned) across the UK and are constantly expanding to areas with substantial unmet need, based on local research.
Jade Statt, co-founder of StreetVet said, “Discovering a competition that celebrates the importance of the human animal bond felt like fate, one the StreetVet team felt compelled to enter. We are so delighted that we did! Going through this process has been really enlightening and we are beyond pleased that our project has reached the final, it is a real privilege.”
According to the Big Issue, StreetVet has now recruited more than 60 volunteers and ensured that more than 600 street dogs, cats and rabbits are vaccinated, microchipped, prescribed pain relief or protected from infections.
Mary Sharrock, External Relations Director, Purina, said, “The work StreetVet do is simply amazing and I’m delighted they’ve made the shortlist. Throughout the selection process for the BetterwithPets Prize, we found ourselves inspired by so many of the initiatives which harnessed the pet-human bond in such innovative ways and create positive changes in communities.”
The finalists will showcase their initiatives to a jury of five judges during an online pitch competition on 3 June 2020 at 13:00 to 15:30 CET.
After pitches and Q&A, Bernard Meunier, CEO, Nestlé Purina PetCare EMENA will announce the prize winner(s) and their award(s) with an investment of up to CHF 100,000 (£84,250) for the piloted/implemented innovations and up to CHF 18,000 (£15,165) for the idea-stage innovations. Purina employees will have the opportunity to choose their favourite idea-stage innovation for an additional prize of CHF 2,000 (£1,685).
For a full list of the finalists, click here.