Members of the NSARDA’s Kent team in training
Kent Veterinary Group Sniffs Out Local Search And Rescue Organisation As Its Nominated Charity
1 month ago 
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Independent veterinary group, Pennard Vets, which has eight practices across Kent, has set its sights on raising more than £2,500 for the local branch of the National Search And Rescue Dog Association (NSARDA).
Pennard Vets’ 155 strong team, who are all owners and stakeholders in the business as part of its employee ownership trust (EOT), voted on which charity to support for at least the next 12 months, and the team are now organising a packed calendar of events and activities to hit the target.
The NSARDA specialises in taking members of the public and their pet dogs and turning them into highly qualified search and rescue teams, to assist in searching for people in a wide range of scenarios including those who may be missing, trapped in collapsed buildings, stranded in water or even deceased.
The NSARDA represents search dog associations located throughout the UK and is linked locally to Kent Search and Rescue, which assists the emergency services in searching for high risk and vulnerable missing persons, where there is often a threat to life.
Stuart Kenny, chairman of the National Search And Rescue Dog Association and longtime member of the Kent branch, said: “On average we see between 60 and 90 cases a year but there’s no pattern and often they come in fits and starts. Our unique strength is our dogs can pick up the scent of someone from hundreds of metres away and even in the most horrible weather conditions and terrain.
“We’re all volunteers and we travel all over Kent to respond to calls, often at our own expense. However, it’s very rewarding because of the huge impact you can have on people – whether it’s the missing person or their family. In addition, the other side of the role sees us taking members of the public and their pets, who initially know nothing about search and rescue, and training them to take on a lot of responsibility.”
Stuart added: “We’re entirely self-reliant and dependent on fundraising to train new volunteers and provide equipment to our team. It typically costs £2,500 to kit out a dog team with safety equipment, radios, specialist clothing and training, so we’re delighted to now have the support of Pennard Vets, which will make a big difference and help to make Kent a safer place for everyone.”
Imogen Birch, from Pennard Vets, added: “NSARDA do amazing work and because everyone at Pennard Vets loves anything with four legs, voting them as our chosen charity was an easy thing to do. The charity also hosted several members of our team at a recent training day, which gave us the opportunity to see first-hand how they work and the difference they make.
“We all came away feeling reassured that we have such a dedicated team of search professionals in Kent. We’re now organising all types of events to support them, including a bake sale, a CaniCross run, which is a sponsored run with a dog, and lots of fun games and competitions. The way that our entire team is embracing the challenge is fantastic to see.”
Pennard Vets was founded in Sevenoaks, Kent in 1890 and has eight practices, employing a 155-strong team, throughout Kent in Allington, Borough Green, Langley Park, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and West Malling.
In 2021, Pennard Vets became the largest practice in the world to be transferred into employee ownership, within an employee ownership trust (EOT), meaning all employees are now stakeholders in the business. Pennard Vets was the first veterinary practice in Europe to become B-Corp certified in 2022.
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