A CHARITY will be offering free veterinary care for those unable to afford treatment for their sick or injured pets.

The PDSA is extending its PetAid service which will be offered at veterinary practice MacArthur, Barstow and Gibbs, Hanbury Road, Droitwich, from December 1.

Pet owners in receipt of Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit and living in postcode area WR9 will be eligible for free treatment for their animals.

To receive free care, owners must pre-register with the PDSA PetAid practice. Once they have received a valid, dated registration certificate, they will be entitled to veterinary treatment.

"PDSA depends entirely on public support to fund its PetAid services, so our resources are limited," said PDSA director of veterinary services, Jan McLoughlin.

"However, we do realise that there is a great need for our help - particularly among the elderly - in communities not large enough to sustain a PDSA PetAid hospital.

"To meet this need, PDSA introduced the PetAid practice service which we are pleased to be able to extend to Droitwich.

"Pet owners must register as soon as possible and not wait until their pet needs treatment," she added.

Further information and registration forms can be obtained by calling MacArthur, Barstow and Gibbs on 01905 773262.