Pet charity PDSA makes £1m from tax back scheme

Veterinary charity PDSA has announced it is £1 million better off thanks to its supporters signing up to tax-back scheme Gift Aid.

The scheme enables charities to reclaim tax on donations, so for every £1 donated, the charity can claim a further 28p from the taxman, if the donor has signed up to the scheme.

Until 2007, this was only available for cash donations, but PDSA was one of the first charities to reclaim tax on goods donated to charity shops.

Since then, more than 70,000 people have signed up to Gift Aid when donating their unwanted clothes, books and home furnishings to PDSA shops.

The charity said the extra million was helping to treat thousands more sick and injured pets across the UK.

PDSA director of business services Andrew Holl said: "We're over the moon that we've broken through the £1 million mark. All funds raised through Gift Aid will help PDSA to care for the sick pets of people in need.

"Due to the recession, the charity has seen a surge in the number of people needing its help, so this extra cash has come at a crucial time.

"I'd like to encourage everyone to think of PDSA when they have a clearout and to donate unwanted items and sign up to Gift Aid if they haven't already to get us on track to reach the next million."

Animal lovers wishing to become Gift Aid donors can now register online at www.pdsa.org/giftaidretail.

PDSA provides free veterinary care to the sick and injured pets of people in need and promotes responsible pet ownership. In the past year PDSA PetAid hospitals and branches have provided more than 1.8 million free treatments and more than 360,000 preventive treatments, such as vaccinations, neutering and micro-chipping. Some 40,000 pets are also registered for PDSA-funded veterinary care through PetAid practices.

To be eligible for PDSA care, pet owners must be in receipt of either housing benefit or council tax benefit and live within the designated postcode catchment area of their local PDSA PetAid service.