# People's Dispensary for Sick Animals

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) is the UK's leading veterinary charity, carrying out more than one million free veterinary consultations a year. It was founded in 1917 by Maria Dickin to provide care for sick and injured animals of the poor. Until 2009 PDSA was the largest private employer of fully qualified veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in the UK. Use of the PDSA's services are restricted to those within their Catchment area

## Foundation and development

During World War I, animal-welfare pioneer Maria Dickin opened a clinic in Whitechapel, London to improve the dreadful state of animal health in the area. She wanted a clinic where East Enders living in poverty could receive free treatment for their sick and injured animals. Despite widespread skepticism, she opened her free "dispensary" in a basement on 17 November 1917. She hung a sign by the door that read: "Bring your sick animals! Do not let them suffer! All animals treated. All treatment free".
On its first day, the dispensary only attracted four patients. Among them was a limping donkey, and the owner was amazed by the PDSA's free services. The owner later served as a publicity agent for the clinic. He told everyone he met what the PDSA had done for him, emphasizing its free services. The clinic was soon swarmed with customers, and Dickin was forced to find a larger premises. The clinic moved from a clergyman's cellar to a shop and four rooms in Mile End, opposite the People's Palace.
By 1922, the PDSA had opened seven clinics across London, treating up to 70,000 animals a year.
Within six years of opening her first clinic, Dickin had designed and equipped her first horse-drawn clinic, and soon, a fleet of mobile dispensaries was established.
Further success allowed the PDSA to open their first clinic outside London in Salford in 1923. Following by a PDSA Sanatorium in Ilford in 1928 used to train more PDSA practitioners. By 1926–27, the PDSA was operating 57 clinics and three travelling caravans, and had treated almost 410,000 patients in a year at a cost of £43,085 at its various premises across Britain.
In 1931, an annual Christmas Market of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals was being held at the Royal Albert Hall on 24-25 November. A 10-ton Christmas pudding, the largest ever created up until that time, was featured. The recipe became known as the "Prince of Wales' Empire Christmas Pudding" after the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) who was then a patron of the PDSA. In 1973, Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, would become the charity's patron.
By 1935, the PDSA had 11 motor caravan clinics travelling around the country. When the Second World War started, the PDSA had a total of 5 animal hospitals, 71 dispensaries and the 11 mobile caravan dispensaries. Their rescue squads helped more than 250,000 pets injured or buried in rubble of The Blitz.
Eventually, PDSA's role was defined by two Acts of Parliament, in 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. xv) and 1956 (4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. lxvii), that continue to govern its activities today.

## Awards

Maria Dickin instituted the Dickin Medal in 1943 to acknowledge outstanding acts of bravery by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units. It has become recognised as the animals' Victoria Cross, and is administered by PDSA.
The PDSA created a second animal bravery award, the PDSA Gold Medal, in 2002, which is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the George Cross.
In 2014, the PDSA Order of Merit was instituted to recognise outstanding examples of animal devotion to their owners or society; it is the animal equivalent of the OBE. As of 19 February 2021, it has been awarded to 12 horses, the first being police horse Grace, and 20 dogs, the latest being Springer Spaniel Max, the first pet to receive the award.

## Eligibility requirements

Today, treatment is only available to the pets of those in receipt of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, and who live in one of the charity's 'catchment areas'. For those eligible, treatment for sick and injured animals is free of charge. Recently, the PDSA started providing eligible pet owners with preventive services such as neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. These services are the only treatments that are not free, but are offered at cost.
Although free the PDSA does asks clients to make a donation of whatever they can afford towards the treatment of their animals. In 2009, the PDSA began requesting a donation on checking in an animal for treatment.
As of 2005, the PDSA has been able to offer its services to 75% of eligible people, and has plans to increase this to 80% or more over the coming years.

## Areas of operation

PDSA operates throughout Great Britain through animal hospitals and practices; a vast network of charity shops supports the organisation. It has one animal hospital in Northern Ireland, the catchment area of which covers much of the area east of the Bann. Although further hospitals are not currently planned for that region, some services through private clinics may be offered, and a charity shop was due to open in March 2007 in Lisburn. The charity's head office is based in Telford, Shropshire.
In 1937, a branch of the PDSA was founded in District Six, South Africa, which at the time was a poverty-stricken area of Cape Town. In 1988, the organization became autonomous, but maintains a strong link with the mother society in the United Kingdom and a great deal of information is exchanged between them.
In October 1938, the PDSA held a Twenty-First Birthday Dinner at the Holborn Restaurant in London, attended by Mrs Dickin. There were words from abroad from France (Mr Horne), Dutch East Indies (Mr Cronin), Romania (Mr Smith), and Greece (Mr Hurle).

## Roobarb and Custard partnership

In 2012, Bulldog Licensing, the brand licensing agency for Roobarb and Custard, pledged a long-term link with PDSA to help raise £1M. The characters have already appeared on a range of PDSA T-shirts, modelled and supported by singer and TV presenter Alesha Dixon.

## Pet Fit Club

In 2005, the PDSA launched its Pet Fit Club competition, to help battle the problem of pet obesity. The annual contest has a group of overweight dogs, cats, and rabbits embark on a strict, six-month diet and exercise programme, specially tailored by PDSA vets and nurses. At the end of the programme, the best-performing pet is crowned slimmer of the year. In 2015, small furry pets such as guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, and mice were allowed to take part in the competition for the first time.

## Patrons

* Princess Alexandra (1973-present)
* Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (1940s)