'Don’t forget the animals' says donation-hit SSPCA

The Scottish SPCA has launched a new campaign with a simple message as the charity provides a vital lifeline to Scotland’s animals throughout the coronavirus pandemic – don’t forget the animals.

The animal welfare charity is continuing to deliver life-saving services to animals nationwide. Despite a fall in membership and donations due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Society’s dedicated animal care teams have helped thousands of animals over the past month.

In recent weeks, the Scottish SPCA has seen almost 1,500 members stop their monthly donations.

This, combined with the cancellation of fundraising events and challenges, means the society could face losing up to 20 per cent of its income this year in a worst-case scenario.

The society’s Highland needs more than £11,000 every month to care for animals.

Since the nation entered lockdown on March 23, the society has fielded over 11,000 calls to its animal helpline and responded to over 4,400 reports of animals in urgent need.

An emergency fostering service was launched to free-up space as it continued to rescue animals without being able to rehome. More than 130 animals have gone to foster homes, with over 300 animals seized on welfare grounds or picked up as strays coming in to rescue centres over the same period.

Over 700 animals are receiving rehabilitation at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre, which is getting busier all the time as the weather improves.

The Scottish SPCA has also had to suspend its education programme, instead offering a suite of free home-learning resources for parents, carers and teachers across Scotland.

The charity's work can be the difference between life or death for animals like Ash the Border collie who was rescued, with her puppies, from under a shed.

Ash, befriended here with SSPCA animal care assistant Stephanie, was taken with her litter to the society’s Caithness and Sutherland Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.

"When Ash was dropped off at the house of her new owners, she was terrified," said care centre manager Christine Urquhart. "Ash darted off in to the garden and hid under the shed. She only left her hiding place to eat or toilet, and the next thing her family knew there were puppies under the shed."

The dogs were taken in after a call from the owners.

"Ash was highly strung and petrified of everyone. With bags of patience and lots of encouragement, Ash began to eat ham from the hands of the animal care assistants. Eventually, Ash would let people she knew gently stroke her head."

At the moment, she is being fostered by one of the Society’s animal care assistants, Stephanie. On top of caring for animals in the centre every day, Stephanie is working to build Ash’s confidence until she is ready to live with a patient, understanding owner.

Christine added: “Our frontline teams, whether on our helpline, out on the road, or in a rescue centre, are still here fighting to rescue and care for every single animal we can.

“We know Scotland is a nation of animal lovers and now, more than ever, we ask that they don’t forget the animals.

“Our aim is to be here as long as animals and people need us, giving animals like Ash and her pups their second chance in life.

“Every single person who signs up to support us with a monthly donation will make a difference and will save lives.

"We receive no government funding and are entirely reliant on donations from the public."

More information about the #DontForgetTheAnimals campaign at www.scottishspca.org/join.

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