National Service Animal Week returns as Jollyes raises funds for the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals

Award winning Jollyes Pets is celebrating National Service Animal Week for a second consecutive year after its successful launch in 2025.

All Jollyes stores will be raising vital funds and awareness for the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) between Monday 5 May and Sunday 11 May.

The campaign is being held to mark the charity’s fourth anniversary and Jollyes will welcome retired service animals and their handlers for special in-store appearances across a selection of Jollyes stores including Edinburgh, Cannock, Blyth, Plymouth, Cardiff, Lisburn and Gloucester.

Retired police service dog Sally, and her handler Hannah visited the Plymouth store welcoming customers yesterday (Thursday 7 May).

Sally is a ten-year-old springer spaniel, who served with the Ministry of Defence police for six years as an explosive search detection dog.

She was deployed to multiple high-profile events throughout her career including the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26), and the G7 summit, where she even got to meet presidents.

Now retired Sally lives with her handler Hannah and regularly makes appearances at various events on behalf of the NFRSA Southwest Hub.

The NFRSA helps support the care, well-being, and welfare of retired service animals from across the emergency service family - the police, fire, border force, National Crime Agency, NHS and prison services.

Retired service animals do not receive any additional funds to support their care and upkeep once they are retired and are also unable to receive meaningful pet insurance due to their age and training.

Jollyes’ partnership with the NFRSA began in 2024 and continues to grow through in-store fundraising, awareness campaigns and support for community and new store openings involving retired service animals.

Richard Weeks store manager at Plymouth said:

“We’re incredibly proud of our partnership with the NFRSA and the amazing work it does to support service animals and their handlers.

“At our store we’re delighted to help raise awareness and vital donations for such an important cause.

“We’re excited to continue supporting the charity and look forward to celebrating a third National Service Animal Week together.”

To end the week of fundraising, Lady Countess Bathurst founder of the NFRSA will be visiting the Jollyes store in Gloucester where she will be presented with a cheque for money raised from the stores during the special week.