AN animal charity is continuing to set Wirral pets' tails wagging when its national pet wellbeing tour returns to the borough this month.

PDSA vet nurses will be on board the charity's Pet Check vehicle carrying out free wellbeing checks for local dogs and giving advice on other pets with the hope of helping dogs to stay happy and healthy.

The bus will be at Birkenhead Park from 10am until 5pm on Tuesday, April 14, before moving on to other Merseyside locations.

PDSA vet nurse Kiera Lawthers will check the health of each dog, including their weight, eyes, ears, coat and general fitness.

Microchipping, nail-clipping and ear-cleaning are offered free of charge if required.

Kiera can also discuss dogs’ diet, behaviour, socialisation and living environment, and answer any questions, to help owners make the best choices for their pets. Cats Protection neutering vouchers will also be available.

She said: “We know people love their pets and want the best for them, which is why we’re here to help. By offering free, friendly advice and support, we can help owners make small changes that can make a big difference to the health and happiness of pets in Merseyside.”

PDSA’s Pet Check tour visited Merseyside numerous times last year, resulting in improvements to dogs’ diets.

The first visit revealed that more than half of local dogs needed to improve their diet. But by the end of the year, this had reduced to 47%, with 50% of dogs now receiving a healthy, balanced diet.

But despite this, there is still room for improvement, says PDSA, as only a quarter of dogs in Merseyside have all their health needs met properly.

This activity is part of the charity’s ongoing community and education programme, which has been boosted by funding of £600,000 from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

PDSA’s two custom-designed Pet Check vehicles have been kindly donated to the charity by benefactors Julie and Robert Breckman. The vehicles are named after Robert and his late wife Julie, whose love of animals and support of PDSA has helped to make the PetCheck tour a reality.

More information about the Pet Check tour is available on PDSA’s website pdsa.org.uk/petcheck.