A PILOT partnership between a national veterinary group and the RNLI has been launched, to help promote water safety messages for people and their pets.

Vets4Pets has joined forces with the RNLI for the project across Wales, which forms part of the lifeboat charity's ongoing 'Respect the Water' campaign.

The programme will primarily be focusing on a key group of users which the RNLI has identified as being at risk when on or near the coast – dog walkers.

Helen Church, the RNLI’s community safety partner for Wales and West, said: "This pilot partnership is a brilliant opportunity to work with an organisation that in many ways is similar to the RNLI.

"Vets4Pets practices provide a vital service and are an intrinsic part of their local community.

"We know dog walkers are an ‘at risk’ group when walking their pets around water and the coast, which means Vets4Pets is an ideal partner for us as we continue to deliver water safety messages."

The partnership will include First Aid pet workshops promoting water safety messages, as well as veterinary staff advising RNLI volunteers on how best to handle pets they have rescued.

Karlien Heyrman, vet and clinical services manager at Vets4Pets, said: "The RNLI are a fantastic organisation whose volunteers work selflessly and tirelessly to keep people, and pets, safe around the waters of the UK.

"We’re delighted to be launching this partnership and hopefully helping to play a role in preventing unnecessary incidents involving pets and their owners getting into trouble in the water."