The Charity Commission has sided with the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals on a decision that would allow it to change its objects to offer paid-for services.
The PDSA requested a scheme that would amend its objects but received opposition.
The original objects states that PDSA exists to provide “free medical or surgical treatment to animals belonging to persons who appear to the Society to be unable to afford the services of a veterinary surgeon”.
However, the changes would allow the provision of treatment “whether at free, at a reduced charge, or at full charge”.
Other objects that PDSA plans to have added are “the education of the public in matters concerning animal health and welfare in general” and “the advancement of animal welfare for the public benefit by any other means”.
The PDSA always wants to amend its “power of investment and the provisions regarding auditing of accounts”.
The review panel noted that the changes would impact the private veterinary sector but these were not considered significant. It concluded that the proposed changes “would enable the charity to further its purposes more effectively”.
A spokeswoman for PDSA said: "Our core activity will remain the provision of free veterinary treatment for pets belonging to owners that cannot afford the services of a private veterinary surgeon.
"However, we want to do more to educate owners on pet wellbeing and so decrease the level of preventable diseases treated every single day in our Pet Hospitals.
"By expanding our charitable objects, we will be able to communicate our pet health messages to a much wider audience and thereby deliver a greater public benefit in terms of the advancement of animal welfare, as well as the relief of poverty.
"With expanded charitable objects PDSA will seek to extend the delivery of its charitable benefits beyond its current eligible client group, providing a concessionary (reduced) charged-for veterinary service to additional segments of the pet-owning public, through its existing UK network of 51 Pet Hospitals."
Because it involves making changes to the “provisions made in respect of the charity by statute” the scheme has to be laid before parliament. The draft scheme was published on the Commission’s website between July and August 2014.
Five representations with regard to the draft scheme were made, so it was referred for a decision review by the Commission. The Commission also asked PDSA to obtain an impact assessment, which was submitted on 3 December 2014.
The review panel agreed that the draft scheme should be made and submitted to the minister for civil soceity to be laid before parliament, and to be instated by order of the minister.
PDSA announced plans to rebrand earlier this year, changing its logo and website in a bid to appear to a wider audience. It is also changing its strapline from “for pets in need of vets” to “help a vet help a pet”.
