AROUND 500 pets have been helped by a partnership offering discounted veterinary treatment for owners on low incomes in Cwmbran since its launch a year ago.

Since January 2017, 460 pets have been helped by Blue Cross Cwmbran Pet Care Clinic, based at Summerdale Veterinary Centre on Avondale Road.

Among the pets helped was Toothless, who was reunited with his owner after a member of the public brought him into the clinic and they scanned him for a microchip.

The black cat was found in a hedge with a broken leg after he was hit by a car.

The cat's owner ,Caschella Teague, said: “He had a problem with his kidney and I was facing him being put to sleep.

"I really don’t know what I’d have done without Blue Cross.”

To register for the scheme, owners must pay an annual registration fee of £22 per pet and up to two can be registered from one household, including cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils.

To be eligible for discounted vet treatment, pet owners must receive a means-tested benefits: Pension Credit; Housing Benefit; Income Support; Working Tax Credit; Council Tax Benefit – not 25 per cent single person discount; Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit and Income-based Employment and Support Allowance and live in one of the following postcode areas: NP4, NP10, NP18, NP19, NP20 or NP44.

Richard Casey, the Blue Cross clinical development manager, said: “We’re delighted with the success of the clinic over the last 12 months and look forward to helping even more owners access affordable treatment for their pets.

“Many of the cases we see in our hospitals and clinics across the country are entirely preventable, which is why we’re also offering a range of preventative treatments such as neutering, flea and wormers, at considerably reduced prices.”

Adele Morgan, centre receptionist, said: “People may have fallen on hard times, be facing illness or redundancy and may not be able to afford private fees, so the clinic means we can really help the local community here.”

For details on the scheme or eligibility, or for charitable donations, call the clinic on 0300 790 9903 or visit bluecross.org.uk/cwmbran.