MINI has teamed up with the UK’s largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust, with the aim of becoming the first officially dog-friendly car retailer by 2022.
The quest is to make dog travel across the UK a happier experience, and with 12.5 million dogs in the country, one in three households now include a dog; it’s a situation that affects a great many people.
David George, director of MINI said: “Born from our entire team’s passion for dogs, we are so excited to be partnering with Dogs Trust, an organisation that is very close to my heart after we adopted our Lurcher, Harry from them three years ago.
“With more dogs in families now than ever before, we want to help make sure they travel safely and enjoy the ride. It’s just as important to us that our four-legged customers love being in a Mini as much as the drivers do and we have had a lot of fun letting dogs of all shapes and sizes put our cars through the ultimate tail-wagging tests.”
MINI retailers will be welcoming canine pals through the doors with kit such as bowls and mats, while the Dogs Trust will be working with MINI to educate consumers on best practice for happy dog car journeys.
Dr Jenna Kiddie, head of canine behaviour at Dogs Trust, said: “We’re delighted to be part of MINI’s journey to becoming fully dog friendly. It’s really important that your car is right for the whole family, including your four-legged passenger, whose needs and safety requirements are slightly different to ours.
“It’s wonderful to see such an iconic automotive brand considering the needs of dog owners, so they can make sure their beloved canine family members are safe and comfortable when on the road.”
