Matthew was pleased to visit the PDSA animal charity in Hendon to see for himself the work being undertaken by the vets and veterinary assistants. 

The cost of animals, particularly when they become sick or have an accident, is very expensive and the PDSA exists to help people who have difficulty paying for treatment. In addition to emergency care the charity assist people in the general welfare of their animals. This includes micro-chipping, neutering and vaccinating animals to give them the best possible life. 

To qualify for free or subsidised treatment, pet owners must be in receipt of certain benefits, such as housing benefit or council tax support, and live within the catchment area of a PDSA hospital or clinic. 

Matthew said: “Animal welfare is very important to me, as it is to many local people, and I am very proud that charities such as PDSA exist to help animals when their owners may not be financially able to. The preventative work such as neutering prevents longer-term problems, such as unexpected litters and other live births which can cause heavy financial burdens and even lead to pets being abandoned. We are really fortunate to have the PDSA in Hendon and I thank all the staff for their marvellous work.”