Pets at Home store is set to open its doors in the town

Alnwick's Pets at Home store will be officially opened today, with the creation of 14 jobs.
Alnwick's new Pets at Home store.Alnwick's new Pets at Home store.
Alnwick's new Pets at Home store.

The store, on Willowburn Retail Park, will have a Groom Room and an adoption centre.

It will provide dedicated products for dogs, cats, small animals, chickens, birds and fish as well as wildlife.

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The shop will be officially opened by Alnwick Mayor Alan Symmonds at 10am, although the store welcomed customers from yesterday as part of a soft launch.

Area manager Andrea Bruce said: “There was a strong demand from Alnwick pet owners for Pets at Home to come to town and we’re very pleased to have been able to grant them their wish.

“Pets at Home is committed to recruiting from the local area and I’m pleased we’ve found a team of talented individuals in Alnwick. They’re all extremely passionate about pets and can’t wait to get started.”

The new, 9,000 sq ft store has created jobs for local people, including the creation of new grooming positions, having received more than 400 applications.

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All colleagues at the store receive extensive training on pet care and pet knowledge which is endorsed by City & Guilds, providing a stamp of approval that demonstrates the value of its training.

Store manager Anthony Griffiths has been with Pets at Home for nine years, having previously worked at the Newcastle Byker branch.

Anthony, said: “It’s been a busy few months and now my team and I can’t wait to open the doors and welcome our new customers and their pets to the store.”

The store’s adoption centre is run by independent charity, Support Adoption for Pets. Since being established in 2006, the charity has helped more than 1,000 rehoming centres and animal welfare organisations across the UK by awarding grants and running fund-raising campaigns with Pets at Home.

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As part of this, local animal rescue organisations are being urged to nominate themselves to receive financial support from the charity partnership scheme.

It offers help from Support Adoption For Pets and Pets at Home through a range of activities and also eligibility to be nominated and take part in the national fund-raising drives run by Support Adoption For Pets during the year.

To become part of the scheme, email [email protected]