Friday, 12 June 2020
A student-led charity, which provides free veterinary care for the pets of homeless people in Nottingham, is holding a virtual pet show to raise much-needed funds for its clients during lockdown.
The winning pet will be chosen by a panel of judges including Channel 5’s Yorkshire Vet – Julian Norton.
Vets in the Community (ViC), was set up in 2012 by students from the University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science (SVMS). The team run clinics fortnightly in Nottingham city centre and pets of eligible people can receive free routine treatment such as vaccinations, health checks, micro-chipping and treatment for fleas, worms and minor ailments.
An entry
The charity is run entirely on donations but sadly, due to social distancing measures, the team are presently unable to run their clinics. Their clients, however, are still reliant on them during this period for medication and pet food.
Dr Jenny Stavisky, a clinical Assistant Professor in the University’s SVMS, and one of the ViC team, said: “Due to the anticipated economic impact of Covid-19, we believe a greater number of people will become reliant on our services more than ever. The purpose of the virtual show is to not only make people smile during these difficult days, but to also raise vital funds for our clients. We have already raised £1500 and beaten our first two targets, so we have now increased our goal to £1700- so people get entering!!”
The team set up the virtual pet competition on the ViC Facebook page at the end of May, inviting pet owners to send a direct message with pictures and videos of their animals. They then ask for a small donation via their Just Giving page. The post will be approved and posted publicly on their event page.
An entry
The categories are:
- Grumpiest pet #ViCgrumpiestpet
- Best smile #ViCbestsmile
- Lockdown mischief #ViCfunny
- Best rescue #ViCbestrescue
- Best trick #ViCbesttrick
- Pet that looks like their owner
The image or video in each category with the most likes will receive a rosette and a certificate in the post. Entries are open until Tuesday 30 June, with a winner being chosen on 3 July by a panel of judges, including the Yorkshire Vet.
We hope that our ‘Virtual Pet Show’ will get everyone smiling and raise essential funds to provide the care we believe our clients and their pets deserve during this ongoing crisis.”
Julian Norton, the Yorkshire Vet, said: “I’m really delighted to be able to support Vets in the Community. Pets are integral to our lives and can be especially important for people in vulnerable positions. Taking care of their animals can be even more challenging and the work of groups like Vets in the Community is invaluable. Please do what you can to help by supporting this fun, virtual pet show!”
Vet and Nottingham alumna, Louisa Graham, is also a judge. She said: “I was over the moon to be asked to work with Vets in the Community. Pets are our family and they help us get through the unimaginable, so we can only imagine the support and comfort they provide owners who are homeless.
“Vets in the Community are raising money to keep those pets owned by vulnerable people safe and healthy, and I’m so pleased to be involved. So let’s help raise funds for pets in the community with their virtual pet show. I know I’m keen to enter!”
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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