Charity supporting retired service animals announces The Duchess of York as Patron

To coincide with its first birthday, The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, founded by The Countess Bathurst in May last year, has announced The Duchess of York as the charity’s new patron.

The Duchess, invited to become Patron by the trustees to the NFRSA, accepted without hesitation. She said: “It is a great honour to be invited to be Patron of the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals. This incredible charity is dedicated to supporting our truly exceptional service dogs and horses who do more for us than we can ever imagine. I am deeply grateful for their belief in me, and I will do everything I can to personally support them.”

“We could not be more delighted The Duchess has so graciously agreed to become our Patron,” said Lady Bathurst. “Her wish to become personally involved has already been illustrated when she offered her direct support in December.

“The Duchess will help us to be the voice for our wonderful, retired dogs and horses from the police, fire & rescue, prison, border force and National Crime Agency services. They have, quite simply, kept us safe in ways we can only imagine, and we know The Duchess will assist us in highlighting the extraordinary service they have given, as well as encourage others to get involved.”

The NFRSA has attracted many a celebrity supporter with ambassadors including actress Minnie Driver, TV’s Carol Vorderman and Nick Knowles and in its first year, it has issued grants totalling over £22,000 – a life changing sum for the recipient dogs and horses.

With no public provisions in place to help handlers to care for their service animals in retirement, and little, or no access to insurance, the NFRSA helps owners to continue to cherish their four-legged partners by providing financial support with vet and medical bills that inevitably occur as an animal becomes older.

Speaking about the charity’s first year, Lady Bathurst said: “The cause of the NFRSA has captured the hearts of many kind and passionate supporters, to whom we are unendingly grateful. We have ALL, whether we know it or not, been kept safe by our serving animals, whether in the limelight or quietly behind the scenes.”

Carol Vorderman is an ambassador for the charity, she said: “These wonderful animals deserve a healthy and loving retirement, and I’m delighted to be involved in this exciting new charity.”

To help raise funds and awareness, the charity’s founder, Lady Bathurst will cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, to raise money and awareness. The NFRSA’s new patron, The Duchess of York, will be driving the tour Winnebago.

Lady Bathurst will be accompanied by a number of the charity’s ambassadors on two wheels along the route, including David Gower, Ben Miller, Nick Knowles, and Lisa Maxwell, as well as officers and dog handlers from the five services the charity supports.

The NFRSA will champion the cause of retired service animals into the future and looks forward to supporting these magnificent animals in their retirement, as well as highlighting the extraordinary work they do.