Pets at Home recently hit a milestone of one million children being educated through its Pet Pals programme.
The pet retailer’s free in-store workshops are designed to teach children aged four to ten about responsible pet ownership.
These consist of interactive games, activities and hands-on experiences, with topics including nutrition, exercise, grooming, play, friendship and creating suitable environments for pets.
This summer, the Pets Pals workshops were delivered across 396 of the company’s stores.
The business saw 132,303 children attending Pet Pals workshops across six campaigns between summer 2025 and summer 2026. During this period, over 184,000 places were booked across 51,801 sessions held in Pets at Home stores nationwide.
Pets at Home chief operating officer Anja Madsen explains that Pet Pals was created “to make pet welfare education fun, practical and accessible for children”.
“We know that learning about animals and how to care for them from an early age can help children understand the responsibility that comes with pet ownership, so the programme gives families free access to trusted advice from our experienced pet care colleagues,” she says.
“But beyond the education, Pet Pals creates genuine moments of joy and what we would call customer magic.
“For many children, it’s the first time they’ve had the opportunity to interact closely with different pets, ask questions and learn what those animals need to live happy, healthy lives.
“I’ve walked into Pet Pals sessions and seen families huddled around one of our colleagues, with children completely captivated by what they’re discovering.
“Seeing those amazed faces, and watching our pet care experts share their passion and knowledge, is incredibly rewarding. Those moments are what make the programme so special.”
The Pet Pals programme consists of 45-minute workshops that run across Pets at Home stores over the school holidays, led by its pet care staff.
The subject matter changes between its campaigns, “helping children build their knowledge across different aspects of pet care”.
“What really brings the workshops to life are our colleagues,” Madsen says.
“Many of them are passionate pet owners themselves and genuinely love sharing their knowledge.
“Pet Pals gives them the opportunity to pass on that enthusiasm to the next generation, helping children understand not only how to care for animals, but also why pet welfare matters so much.”
Workshops growing in popularity
The exec explains that the “primary aim” of Pet Pals is to “give children practical, memorable knowledge about caring responsibly for animals”.
“By making pet welfare education interactive and enjoyable, we want children to understand that different pets have different physical, behavioural and social needs,” she says.
“We also want children to leave with a genuine appreciation for animals and the role they play in our lives.
“The best learning often happens through memorable experiences, and Pet Pals creates opportunities for children to engage directly with pets and ask questions in a safe, supportive environment.”
The Pet Pals programme seems to be growing in popularity, with more households booking workshops over summer 2026 than in summer 2025, Pets at Home said.
The proportion of registered children attending its sessions also increased from 69 per cent in summer 2025 to 75 per cent in summer 2026.
Explaining how the programme has evolved over the past year, Madsen says the business has “refreshed the Pet Pals identity and introduced new in-store materials, digital screens and a refreshed booking experience to make the workshops more visible, engaging and appealing to children and families.
“The educational content has continued to develop too. Different campaigns have focused on subjects such as play and natural behaviours, pets’ social and housing needs, nutrition, exercise and grooming,” she adds.
“We have also made the programme more responsive to regional school holidays by enabling stores to select appropriate workshop dates for their area.”
Now that Pets at Home has hit its milestone of educating over a million children, Madsen notes that its focus is on “continuing to build on the success of Pet Pals and engaging even more children and families with responsible pet ownership”.
“We will continue to review the programme, its educational themes and the way workshops are delivered, using feedback and levels of family engagement to ensure the sessions remain useful, accessible and enjoyable,” she says.
“Specific campaign details will be shared with families nearer the time.”
However, she assures “what won’t change” is “the core purpose of the programme”.
“Pet Pals gives children the opportunity to learn directly from passionate pet experts, create positive memories and develop a lifelong appreciation for animal welfare.
“As a business built around caring for pets, we’re incredibly proud of the role the programme plays within local communities and the joy it continues to bring to families during the school holidays.”
