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Top canine gift brand Yappy. com has become the latest organisation to join the national Safe Pets and People campaign.

The campaign, which is backed by the RSPCA, iPET Network, The Groomers Spotlight and Street Paws is calling for mandatory first aid qualifications for all pet professionals.

At the moment people who work with the nation’s pets such as dog walkers, groomers and pet sitters do not have to know what to do in an emergency.

Many people in these industries believe that in order to show a high level of competence, regulation is essential, and a change.org petition has been launched at www. safepetsandpeople.org

Yappy.com, which provides a range of personalised canine-themed merchandise went one step further recently, by hosting a canine first aid course at its dog-friendly Manchester offices.

Safe Pets and People ambassador, qualified veterinary nurse and canine first aid expert Rachel Bean, said: “It is essential that our pet service industries take the welfare of animals seriously and make sure they know what to do in an emergency.

“Many businesses do courses themselves because they really care, but without regulation we can never be sure that all animals are in good hands when they go to the groomer, sitter or walker.

“It is wonderful that firms like Yappy. com are taking their responsibilities seriously too, and by spreading the word they are helping Safe Pets and People to make this much-needed change.”

Alison Parsons, PR Manager at Yappy.com said: “The team regularly bring their dogs into the office on a rotation basis and we’re always looking for new ways to improve our environment to ensure that the dogs are happy and safe.

“Our team recently attended Rachel Bean’s Canine First Aid course to ensure that our dog-loving team are better equipped to understand basic first aid and what to do if your pet is choking or suffering from heatstroke. After taking part in the course, our staff felt much more confident that they would know what to do if their pet falls ill or becomes injured.

“I would urge any professional working with dogs to sign up for the course and ensure they’re confident in handling an emergency situation whilst a much-loved pet is in their care.

“Having a basic knowledge of first aid ensures that you’re much better equipped to deliver potentially lifesaving procedures such as CPR and save precious minutes until you can get professional help.”

Sarah Mackay and Fern Gresty of the iPET Network, which has spearheaded the campaign, said: “Thank you to Yappy.com for throwing their weight behind Safe Pets and People.

“This is an important cause, and we don’t think that lots of people realise that the pet professionals they trust don’t actually need to know what to do in a crisis.

“Big brands like Yappy.com spreading the word helps to get our message across to more people than ever, and we hope that everyone will sign the petition and make their feelings known.”

To find out more and sign the petition go to www.safepetsandpeople.org