Pets at Home runs free My Pet Pals workshops in stores across the UK. They are aimed at animal lovers aged 4 to 10 and run for up to 45 minutes, mixing supervised time with the animals (guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and fish) with colouring sheets and puzzles.

The store’s petcare advisors run the whole session and teach the basics of responsible pet ownership – handling, grooming and playtime. At the end every child gets a sticker and a personalised certificate signed by the Pet Pals.

Booking is free: pick your store and a date on the Pets at Home events site. Places are limited to one adult per child, and the adult watches nearby while the advisors run the workshop.