A PET store is hoping to make a difference to cats in Atherton and Wigan.

The Pets at Home store in Walkden has chosen Atherton & Wigan Cats Protection as its charity partner following an appeal to the community to nominate animal charities from the area.

Staff at the Ellesmere Retail Park store are gearing up to work hand in hand with Atherton & Wigan Cats Protection via its independent charity Support Adoption For Pets.

Pets at Home store manager, Adam Wolstenholme, said: “We’re really excited about our partnership with Atherton & Wigan Cats Protection and have already given some serious thoughts on how we can support them.

“I’m sure our caring customers will be right behind us and help our team raise plenty of money for what is a very worthy cause.”

Support Adoption For Pets will work closely with the new Pets at Home store to support selected local animal welfare organisations and charities through a range of activities, including in-store ‘meet and greet’ events.

Helen Horton, welfare officer at Atherton & Wigan Cats Protection, said: “Everyone here is very much looking forward to working closely with the colleagues at the new Pets at Home store in Walkden, and we’re extremely grateful to them for choosing us as their charity partner.

“The money raised from our in-store events and fundraisers will help us care for more local stray cats until a new home can be found for them.”

Support Adoption For Pets is the UK’s number one grant giving animal charity and was established in 2006.

Since then, the charity has worked with Pets at Home store colleagues and customers to raise more than £10 million and provide financial support to over 1000 animal welfare charities and local re-homing centres across the UK.

The selected charities will also be eligible to be nominated and take part in the national fundraising drives run by Support Adoption For Pets during the year.