Hear from Purina’s BetterWithPets Prize winners on how they’ve transformed their organisations

Across the UK, inspiring organisations are using the pet-human bond to change lives. From offering emotional support in care homes to detecting serious illness through scent, countless initiatives have proved that pets can do more than bring joy – they can help people recover, reconnect and thrive. 

Now, with support from Purina’s BetterWithPets Prize, organisations that centre their work on the pet-human bond have been able to scale their impact even further.

As the application process for the 2025 Purina BetterWithPets Prize opens, we take a look at the organisations that have benefitted from a win in previous years. 

The coveted Prize, which offers a share of a two-year grant worth £170,000 to organisations that support people in vulnerable situations through animal companionship, therapy or assistance, is part of Purina’s wider commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of one million people by 2030 through the life-changing connection between pets and people.

StreetVet is one of the many organisations that has grown thanks to the Purina BetterWithPets Prize after winning in 2023. The charity provides free veterinary care to pets of people experiencing homelessness, operating in more than 20 towns and cities across the UK. The charity also helps remove barriers to housing by working with hostels to support pet-friendly policies.

With funding from the Prize, StreetVet expanded its Accredited Hostel Scheme, strengthened volunteer training and broadened outreach. One beneficiary, a veteran medically discharged from service and now living with PTSD, has shared his life with his dog Rocky for nine years. Thanks to StreetVet’s partnership with a pet-friendly hostel, and the vital veterinary care they provide, Rocky and his owner have been able to remain together – a result that has supported the veteran’s recovery and preserved the strong bond between them.

Pets As Therapy also won in 2023. This organisation brings volunteer pet visits to care homes, hospitals, schools and other settings, supporting the wellbeing of more than 400,000 people each year. From easing anxiety in schools to offering comfort in hospitals, the charity’s work spans all ages and backgrounds.

Thanks to a two-year grant from the Prize, Pets As Therapy has strengthened volunteer training and expanded to underserved regions. Among the many teams making a difference is Diana and her Golden Retriever Ollie, who regularly visit a Glasgow care home where residents have ‘fallen in love’ with him. During several visits, Ollie was welcomed into three communal lounges to meet all 54 residents, joined an art class, and even spent time with the gardening club, bringing visible joy and offering a calming presence that staff say has made a real difference to residents’ wellbeing.

Medical Detection Dogs also received support from the Purina BetterWithPets Prize. The organisation trains dogs to detect human disease, helping to develop faster, less invasive diagnostic tools. With the help of the Prize, the team expanded its training programmes and raised awareness of its groundbreaking work in early detection and prevention. Their work is shaping the future of healthcare, with dogs already trained to identify conditions like cancer, Parkinson’s and even COVID-19.

These stories show what’s possible when people and pets come together, and how support from the Purina BetterWithPets Prize can help organisations grow their reach and deepen their impact. 

In addition to funding, winners join the BetterWithPets community, where they collaborate with Purina and other changemakers to share best practices, resources and inspiration.

Whether your organisation works with assistance dogs, offer animal-assisted therapy, bring companionship to elderly people, or support wellbeing through any other pet-led initiative, the Purina BetterWithPets Prize offers a platform to scale your impact.

Apply before 12th September 2025 at: Purina Better with Pets Prize | Purina