The premium hay box manufacturer, The Little Hay Co, has announced the launch of its Rescue Partnership Scheme, offering dedicated support for charities, animal rescues, and other organisations engaged in animal welfare and dealing with small species such as rabbits and guinea pigs.
Initiated in 2023, The Rescue Partnership welcomes organisations to register their interest, receiving substantial discounts of 40% against the cost of all products advertised through The Little Hay Co website.
Small Pet Surrenders and Animal Rescue in the UK
A record 3.2 million households purchased a pet in the year to March 2021, with a huge 78% of domestic pets having been purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although many will have had good intentions and chosen to welcome a pet during a period when other activities were curtailed, the result has been a sharp rise in abandoned and unwanted pets, with a large proportion of small animals, which were popular options with owners who had no previous animal ownership experience.
The RSPCA, as one of the largest pet welfare charities in the country, reports that it receives a call once every 30 seconds, with a 26% jump in surrendered rabbits in 2021 compared to the year before and as many as 67,000 ending up in rescues every 12 months.
Some rescues have seen an even more extreme increase, with a Hertfordshire rescue reporting a 200% increase in the number of abandoned rabbits in 2022, with a corresponding 85% dip in adoption applications, due to the cost-of-living crisis making it harder for owners to afford to care for their pets.
The Little Hay Co Rescue Partnership
As an exclusive producer and supplier of high-end, nutritious products for small animals such as hay bags for rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, tortoises and chickens, The Little Hay Co launched its support scheme to help rescues and rehoming centres provide the best possible care for the animals that they receive.
Joining the scheme is simple; organisations need to email the company at [email protected] to register and will receive a 40% discount available universally across the website, depending on verification checks for security purposes.
Customers are also welcome to participate, using a wish list hosted by The Little Hay Co, allowing rescue centres to create a list of the items they would most value or need, such as food, hay, bedding, treats and enrichment.
Many abandoned pets are malnourished, often sadly due to a lack of awareness about the right diet and nutrition for their species, so feeding the highest quality fresh, natural hays and foods, combined with foraging for mental and physical stimulation, can make a profound difference to the health and recovery of a small animal, and their chances of being adopted.
Publicity and Assistance for Small Animal Pet Rescues
In addition to generous discounts and wish lists, rescue organisations can share their requests for donated items through socials and email campaigns to engage with their supporters and prioritise the contributions they need. The Little Hay Co products are also available to add to charity and rescue centre Amazon wish lists, integrating with existing wish lists.
Alexander, the farmer behind The Little Hay Co says, “We are passionate about the quality and skill we invest into every batch of hay we harvest and every forage box we send on its way to a pet. Hearing about the rise in abandoned pets and recognising the huge amount of stress and pressure this places on rescues – many of which are run by small groups of volunteers – we wanted to do our part.
Animal rescues work tirelessly to help unwanted pets find loving, permanent homes but often need to spend weeks or even months rehabilitating, socialising and treating pets who may have ailments or need a period of good nutrition to bring them back to optimal health.
We hope The Rescue Partnership continues to prove a success and extend our heartfelt thanks to every small pet rescue who supports these animals and ensures they have a bright, warm and loving future ahead.”
Whenever a rescue that is enrolled in The Rescue Partnership successfully rehomes a pet to its forever home, the business will extend its support to the new adopter with a 20% discount on any initial order in recognition of their Gotcha Day and to welcome their new animal to the family.
The Little Hay Co is already supporting six UK-wide rescues, including guinea pig rehoming centres and rabbit rescues, and invites all interested participants to enrol at any time to receive the same support, reduced pricing and access to small pet-specific wish lists.
Come and meet The Little Hay Co at their stall at the first National Rabbit Festival being held in Birmingham in October with vendors, rescues and charities coming together to help educate and raise awareness on rabbit welfare.
Read more about The Little Hay Co - The Little Hay Co Launches Three New Foraging Hay Boxes
Media Contact:
Masie Copestake
The Little Hay Company
Instagram: @littlehayco
About The Little Hay Co
The Little Hay Co is a producer of premium, high-quality, delicious hay for rabbits and other small animals, based in the heart of the Costwolds, UK. The premium hay producer grows specially selected grass species, harvested at the optimum moment to ensure the creation of quality pet hay, to encourage the best daily intake of food and the best welfare for pets, clean from harmful spores.
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Source Company: https://littlehayco.com/
