Battersea Dogs and Cats Home say that if there is sufficient demand, they will repeat the highly successful pets free advice day which they staged with the PDSA and Cats Protection on a sunny day in Croydon last week.

Pet experts could return to Croydon for an advice session if they receive enough requests

“Promoting responsible pet ownership through our community events is one way Battersea Dogs and Cats Home can help reduce the numbers of stray dogs and puppies we may get handed – or ‘gifted’ – into the home,” said Gubs Hayer, the community engagement officer from Battersea who helped to staff the event which was held in the car park of John Lewis on the Purley Way.

“We can advise people on why neutering is important, what the current legal responsibilities of being a pet owner are and how they can ensure their pet is happy and healthy.

“Alongside offering free dog microchipping and engraving free collar ID tags, we now also offer free pet health checks through the Battersea vet nurse that comes along to these events or through our charity partners who also attend.”

Hot dog: the summer weather is tough on some breeds

The Croydon event was attended by an encouraging number of responsible owners, who were keen to ask questions about their pet’s health, how to best manage their pet’s weight, what to do about excessive barking and how much exercise particular types of dog need.

Puppy love: free microchipping for dogs was a popular request. All photos courtesy of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home

“Many people hadn’t realised that it was now the law that you must have your dog microchipped,” one Battersea official said.

The most popular aspect of the event was the health checks offered, especially having their dog’s teeth checked and advice on how to clean them properly.

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