The Pet Education Partnership (PEP), a collaboration between eight of the leading animal welfare charities in the UK, and Vet Sustain have announced an exciting new collaboration to equip veterinary professionals with engaging, ready-to-deliver school sessions designed to inspire children to care for pets responsibly and sustainably.

Drawing on the findings of PEP’s Children and Pets Survey 2025, which revealed that veterinary professionals are the most trusted source of pet care information for 53% of the young people surveyed, this initiative aims to harness that trust to make a lasting impact.

The jointly developed session will be tailored for vets and vet nurses to present in primary schools across the UK, combining PEP’s expertise in educational outreach with Vet Sustain’s focus on sustainability, and both organisations’ knowledge of animal welfare. The content will cover key topics such as what animals need to be happy and healthy, how we can help pets achieve this, and how we can make the world a better place for both people and animals - with activities such example ‘appointments’ and the chance to make a ‘pet planet promise’ - designed to spark curiosity and encourage empathy.

“Children look up to veterinary professionals and our recent survey shows they trust their advice more than anyone else when it comes to pets” said Anna Baggott, Education Lead at PDSA and member of PEP. “By supporting vets and vet nurses to visit schools, we can make the most of that trust to instil lifelong values around responsible pet ownership.”

“This collaboration reflects our shared mission to create a healthier future for animals, people and the planet,” said Laura Higham, Director at Vet Sustain. “Through these sessions, we hope to inspire children not only to care for their pets, but to think about the wider impact of their choices. It will further help veterinary professionals and their workplaces to fulfill their commitments to sustainability, via community engagement.”

The session resources will be available for free to veterinary teams via both the Vet Sustain and PEP websites. Together, PEP and Vet Sustain aim to empower the veterinary community to educate and inspire the next generation - ensuring pets are cared for with compassion and in harmony with the environment.

About PEP
The Pet Education Partnership (PEP) is dedicated to promoting the benefits of responsible pet ownership and fostering positive relationships between children and animals through education, research and outreach. The partnership brings together eight of the UK’s leading animal welfare charities: PDSA, RSPCA, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, Woodgreen, SSPCA and USPCA.

https://peteducationpartnership.org/

About Vet Sustain
Vet Sustain supports veterinary professionals to champion sustainability within their work and communities, promoting practices that benefit animals, people, and the planet.

https://vetsustain.org/