Vets4Pets Ayr has purchased a public defibrillator for the local community.
The business, part of the Pets at Home firm, purchased the potentially live-saving machine after launching a fundraising campaign.
The initiative began after a young colleague with a heart condition collapsed at work, reaffirming the need for a defibrillator.
It saw the 20-strong team take part in several fundraising activities, including raffles, bake sales and pet portraits.
The practice also hosted a #GoPurpleDay in honour of the Ayrshire Hospice, which saw them dress in purple to show their support for the outstanding care and support the hospice provides.
The team, along with their clients, raised an impressive £758 towards the defibrillator, which is now available for public use outside the practice in Allison Street Retail Park.
Georgina Mackie, practice manager at Vets4Pets Ayr, said: “It means so much to us all that we are able to help our local community by having this piece of life saving equipment for all to use.
“Many of our team have family members who have been affected by cardiac issues and you never know when this vital piece of equipment will be useful.
“We are so grateful to everyone who kindly donated – this wouldn’t be possible without their generosity.
“We’re also not stopping here and we will continue to fundraise throughout the year to support other important causes.”
This is the latest in a series of fundraising efforts organised by Vets4Pets, in Ayr's Allison Street, all of which are designed to support worthwhile causes.
The team recently took part in a sponsored dog walk along the Ayr beach promenade and regularly hold donation clinics with Pet Blood Bank UK – the only UK charity that provides a blood bank service for vets.
In 2017 they raised funds for the not-for-profit organisation Smokey Paws, which helped to kit out fire stations throughout south, east and north Ayrshire with specially designed pet oxygen masks.
The fundraising initiatives also form part of Pets at Home’s social value strategy, Better World Pledge, and support its goal of becoming the most responsible pet care business in the world.
This includes commitments to positively impact the life of every pet in the UK by 2030, enhance the lives of one million people by 2030 and to become net zero by 2040.
For more information about Vets4Pets Ayr visit: https://www.vets4pets.com/practices/vets4pets-ayr/.
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