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Pet Place launches campaign to save North Wales zoo

Pet Place has announced its partnership with The Welsh Mountain Zoo in a bid to save it from closing amid the pandemic.

The zoo’s team has continued to provide care and support for more than 140 species, but with no revenue coming in they are struggling to meet the site’s monthly running costs of more than £120,000, including food, heating and bedding for the animals.

Pet Place managing director, Sion Pritchard, said as a company dedicated to the health, happiness, and wellbeing of animals, they are only “too happy to give their support”.

He said: “As well as donating our own branded food and using our buying team to source and supply them with specific products, we will be adding Welsh Mountain Zoo gift cards to our site and crediting 10% of each sale of these back to them for future purchases.

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“The Zoo staff have products and food they buy regularly, so with people wanting to donate we have created a dedicated wish list page on our website identifying priority items.  Again, 10% of all these sales will be credited to the Zoo for future purchases.”

He added: “We will also be working with our suppliers to extend the time needed for payment from the Zoo, will help with storage of perishable goods, ensure we provide free delivery of fresh stock to them as and when they require, and are looking at other ways we can ease the burden at this difficult time.”

Pritchard also paid tribute to Pet Place suppliers PureBed, who have already offered donations of products and additional support.

Jen Jesse, director of operations and administration at the Zoo, thanked Pet Place for their efforts.

She said: “We really appreciate the support shown to us by Pet Place. We’ve been overwhelmed by contributions from businesses and individuals who have provided an overwhelming amount of support since we took the difficult decision to close our gates.

“We are currently planning our approach to reopening and managing the impact that Covid-19 has had on the wider operation but look forward to making some positive announcements around dates very soon.”

The news comes as Pet Place announced it has secured a £1m Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) loan from Lloyds Bank.

Pet Place, which owns five superstores across North Wales, has said it has successfully scaled up its online and click and collect services after a 600% increase in online orders meant it needed to change its operating model in the first weeks of lockdown.

With stores experiencing reduced footfall, the seven-figure CBILS loan has enabled the business to ramp up its online activity. 

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