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Melton Mowbray encourages businesses to be pet friendly

Domonique Wilsher Friday, 23 June 2017, 8:23Last Updated: Friday, 23 June 2017, 8:23

1 minute read

Melton Mowbray has launched the PAW-some scheme – a new initiative to encourage more businesses in Melton Mowbray to become pet friendly.

Councillor Mal Sheldon, chair of Melton Borough Council of Melton Borough Council’s Rural, Economic and Environmental Committee explained: “According to the Kennel Club, four out of five companies say that they noticed their business improve after expanding their customer base to include dogs.^[1]

“So we want to help all our hard working local businesses in Melton Mowbray to take advantage of these benefits. This year we’re on a mission to make Melton the UK’s most pet-friendly town because we know that pets can transform the lives of our residents. The PAW-some scheme is the first step on this journey.”

The first stage of the scheme consists of guidance, developed by local pet friendly business Mars Petcare, which provides detailed advice and tips to help businesses in Melton Mowbray to accommodate more pet owners.

Throughout the year, as more local businesses become pet friendly, Mars Petcare and the Melton Business Improvement Division (BID) will develop a digital guide listing the PAW-some companies, to help Melton pet owners find pet-friendly businesses in the town.

All PAW-some businesses in Melton Mowbray will be clearly recognisable on a walk around the town, as they will also will receive an official PAW- print sticker.

Dr Sandra McCune, Scientific Leader for Human-Animal Interaction at the WALTHAM Centre said: “It’s true – bringing your dog to work is good for you! Dogs in the office can offer a sense of comfort, relieve stress, increase interaction and may even improve productivity.

“We are becoming increasingly aware of the day-to-day benefits that pets can bring to our lives and we hope that by combining our world-class research at WALTHAM with amazing initiatives like this one by Mars Petcare and Melton Borough Council we will encourage places like schools, workplaces and other public spaces to be more welcoming to pets – because of the proven impact they bring to these environments.”