MORE and more pet owners are turning to Food Banks to feed their pets – with record numbers facing the prospect of having to surrender their pets!
The latest figures revealed by Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home suggest the problem of ‘Pet Poverty’ is worsening – and has forced the Home to issue an appeal for food donations.
Every month the Home now provides meals for almost 4,000 pets via a network of 90 Food Banks across east and central Scotland – an increase of 70 per cent on last year’s figure.
And additionally, the Home has seen an even bigger increase in pet owners coming to them directly to collect ‘Claws and Paws Packs,’ designed to provide basic supplies to pet owners facing hardship. That number has increased by 93%.
As the demand constantly threatens to exceed supply, the Home is now appealing for urgent donations of wet and dry cat food and bags of dry food for dogs.
Worse still are the increasing numbers of owners contacting the Home, seeking advice on surrendering their pets – with the majority blaming financial reasons.
In March, the Home received a record number of calls, with 114 owners contacting them. That’s the highest number in a six-month period.
Providing pet food to Food Banks and offering food packs direct from the Home is all done with the sole aim of ensuring pets can remain in a loving, caring home.
Food Bank details and how you can donate is available on the Home’s website at edch.org uk
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Derek Stewart-Brown
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home derek@edch.org.uk
Notes for editors:
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home was founded in 1883 and works in partnership with police and local authorities to rescue, reunite and rehome lost, stray and abandoned dogs and cats across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
It has an open-door policy, accepting any dog or cat that comes through the door in need, whatever shape, breed or size, and staff work tirelessly to find a permanent loving home for every animal, however long it takes.
Where possible the Home aims to help pet owners keep their pets in loving homes through their pet food bank, education programme and other community outreach services.
It costs around £3 million a year to run Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home and the charity receives no government funding, relying almost entirely on the generosity of donations from the public.
For further information on Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, please visit www.edch.org.uk. Follow Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @EdinDogCatHome
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Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home contact details…
Contact: Derek Stewart-Brown
Email: derek@edch.org.uk
