Press room

Petplan Equine, the UK’s leading specialist equine insurer, and sister brand Petplan are staging a nationwide “Like to Help” campaign with the aim of funding 1,000 microchips for Blue Cross pets. The insurers will be inviting horse lovers across the country to support the campaign throughout May and June - National Microchipping Awareness Month - by visiting their Facebook pages and clicking “Like to Help”.

Every click received will help Petplan Equine and Petplan to reach their target of microchipping 1000 Blue Cross pets and horses. If you would like to help simply visit Petplan Equine’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/PetplanEquineUK and click the “Like to Help” button to help microchip a Blue Cross Horse.

Each year, Petplan Equine a renowned advocate of responsible ownership and effective horse management, aims to support the essential work of equine charities.

With the much-publicised Horse Crisis deepening as a result of overbreeding, fly grazing, and the recent economic crisis - which has led to more horses at risk and, in some cases, being abandoned - equine welfare and rehoming charities like Blue Cross are all reporting huge increases in horses needing to be taken into care. This places the charities’ resources under even greater pressure.

“Each horse taken in by Blue Cross must be microchipped before it can be rehomed which is why Petplan Equine is lending its support by donating microchips”, explains Charlotte Collyer, senior marketing executive at Petplan Equine.

In addition, the theft of horses and equipment in the UK each year is on the increase and runs to hundreds of thousands of pounds. “A horse going missing whether through theft or straying is every owner’s worst nightmare” says Charlotte.

Blue Cross and Petplan Equine urge owners to view microchipping as an essential part of horse ownership and, crucially, take responsibility for keeping their details up-to-date.

“Such a straightforward method of identification is essential to improve horse welfare and make a better link between horses and their owners” explains Kath Urwin, Blue Cross horse centre manager.

A microchip therefore helps to prevent a lost or stolen horse becoming resident with a charity. “This allows charities like Blue Cross to concentrate their efforts on rehabilitating and rehoming those horses that don’t have homes to return to which we hope will help to reduce the burden placed on charities” explains Charlotte.

“Petplan has supported the Blue Cross for 13 years and over this time has raised a massive £1.3m to help care for our animals. We’d like to say “thank you” to Petplan Equine for its commitment to helping to rehome pets and horses in the UK” said Vanessa Rossiter, Blue Cross Fundraising.

If you’d Like to Help Petplan Equine and Petplan in their endeavor to donate 1000 microchips to Blue Cross pets hurry along to www.facebook.com/PetplanEquineUK and click “Like to Help” and then remember to “share” the page with friends so they too can help meet this ambitious target.

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Jenna Martyn who works at Blue Cross’ Burford Rehoming Centre has been named Animal Charity Employee of the Year at the second Annual Petplan Equine ACDH Charity Awards held last night 8th May at a glittering ceremony at Birmingham’s Hilton Metropolis.

Recognising that staff are the backbone of any equine charity, covering all sorts of roles to ensure the smooth running of the organization, Petplan and ACDH were looking for a hard working employee who is passionate about their job, day in and day out and makes a difference to the rest of the staff and charity as a whole.

For further information on the Petplan ACDH Charity Awards please visit www.petplan.co.uk/aboutpetplan/ourcharities.asp

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For more information please contact:

Name	Telephone	Email
Charlotte Collyer	0208 707 8335	[email protected]

Petplan Equine is the UK's leading horse insurance provider offering a wide variety of flexible horse insurance and rider insurance policies which cater for all levels of experience.

Established more than 20 years ago, Petplan Equine is part of Allianz Insurance, one of the largest general insurers in the world.

For more information about a Petplan Equine horse insurance policy, please visit:
petplanequine.co.uk/insurance/quote.asp

Note to editors:

• Petplan Equine was founded in 1988.
• It is part of Allianz Animal Health, the largest provider of animal health insurance in the world and part of Allianz – one of the largest general insurers in the UK.
• In addition to horse and pony insurance options, Petplan Equine provides dedicated products for veteran horses and rider only insurance cover.
• It is the sister brand of Petplan, the largest provider of small animal insurance in the UK.
• Petplan Equine believes in supporting the equine community and provides more financial support to equestrian sports and activities than any equine insurance provider in the UK.
• The Pet Plan Charitable Trust was founded in 1994 to raise much needed funds for animal welfare and veterinary projects. Money is raised by Petplan and Petplan Equine customers giving an optional £1.50 to the Trust when they take out or renew their policy. To date, almost £5 million has been awarded by the Trust.
• Petplan and Petplan Equine are specialist insurers. As such, the company employs more horse riders and owners than any other and more former veterinary practice staff than any other to ensure the provision of specialist knowledge.
• Redwings Horse Sanctuary is the UK’s largest horse sanctuary, caring for over 1200 rescued horses at its nine sites around the country, with 500 more living in happy Guardian homes across East Anglia. The charity is entirely funded by public donation. Find out more at www.redwings.co.uk.