Our Charity Partners

Meet the good causes we support that improve human health by harnessing the power of animals.  

Here in the UK our business spans Human Pharmaceuticals and Animal Health, so when it came to choosing which charities to support, we wanted to combine both sides of our business and honour the unique bond that exists between people and animals.

We put out the call to all our employees, asking them to nominate appropriate charities and vote for their favourites.  Consequently, thanks to our team, we are pleased to be partnering with Medical Detection Dogs and Pets as Therapy.

Our two official charities are remarkable in the way they contribute to human health by harnessing the natural instincts of our four-legged friends.  Additionally, they mirror our own values, vision and purpose – to serve humankind by improving health for people and animals.

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to detect the odour of human disease using their amazing sense of smell, with the aim of developing faster, more efficient and less invasive diagnostics that lead to better patient outcomes.

The charity is at the forefront of the research into the fight against cancer and other life-threatening diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and bacterial infections.  Its Bio Detection Dogs are trained to find the odour of those diseases in samples such as urine, breath and sweat and this work has the potential to benefit millions.

The team also applies what it knows about the science of canine olfaction to benefit people by training Medical Alert  Assistance Dogs to detect minute changes in an individual’s personal odour triggered by their disease and alert them to an impending medical event, helping them manage complex, life-threatening medical conditions and improving their quality of life.

The charity takes the welfare of its dogs extremely seriously. From the moment they arrive as puppies they encounter the highest standards of care. There is a strict no kennel policy and all dogs live in the homes of staff or fantastic local volunteers where they are loved and cared for as part of the family.

https://www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk/     

Pets As Therapy is a national UK charity founded in 1983 by Lesley Scott-Ordish, a dog owner who understood the unique bond between humans and animals.  The charity works with people who are in hospitals, hospices, day care centres, schools, prisons or other environments where they need support with physical or mental ill health. It provides a unique service by taking behaviourally assessed dogs on site to play an important role in recovery and rehabilitation.

Every week in the UK, thousands of people of all ages enjoy a friendly visit from dog owners who volunteer with Pets As Therapy (PAT). The therapeutic visits provide a number of benefits to the individuals - and communities that support them. The visits have shown to improve the lives of people suffering debilitating mental and physical health conditions and illnesses such as strokes, autism, and dementia. The charity says that simply petting and engaging with a dog can assist people to lower their blood pressure and overcome anxiety.

All of the dogs are much-loved pets who live with their owners – the incredible team of PAT volunteers.  Together they make a wonderful contribution to our healthcare system, and our society.

  Visit https://petsastherapy.org/  

NP-GB-101925 | May 2021