Petsavers was funded in 1974 by a group of vets who realised that there was a need for a charity which funded studies into the many unsolved medical and surgical problems of our pets. Despite the reputation we have as pet lovers, no similar organisation existed in the UK or Ireland at that time.
These vets donated their time and expertise to ensure that all the studies funded met three basic criteria:
- It was relevant
- It was scientific
- It was ethical
Originally Petsavers was known as The Clinical Studies Trust Fund. The name changed to Petsavers in 1996. Petsavers is a division of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
The first award
The first Petsavers award to a young researcher in 1975 set the standard. David Bennett’s award for a study on "auto-immune joint disease in the dog" provided veterinary practitioners with criteria for accurate diagnosis of certain joint diseases, thus leading to more appropriate treatment. The study generated 10 publications which have since become definitive references.
David went on to become an international expert in arthritis and a Professor of Small Animal Clinical Studies.
From strength to strength
Since that initial award in 1975, Petsavers has funded over 100 different studies and training programmes.
From the funding of ground-breaking work on the diagnosis of parvovirus, which contributed to the national control of the disease; to the funding of scholarships in cancer, which has resulted in several centres in the UK with dedicated cancer specialists.
“The Petsavers funding of my early studies allowed major advances to be made in our understanding of arthritis. These studies provided the basis of further research into arthritis for over 30 years, leading to direct clinical applications and motivating many young clinicians and researchers.”
Professor David Bennett