The Scottish SPCA has launched a new initiative to support pet owners who are struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis.
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The Pet Aid pilot will see regular deliveries of pet food start this week to 13 food banks in 12 local authorities. Renfrewshire Foodbank in Renfrew is a pilot site and will aim to help animals and families stay together by providing pet food to families who are struggling.
Calls to the Scottish SPCA’s animal helpline to give up animals have more than trebled in the first half of 2022 and inspectors from the animal welfare charity have provided support to thousands of people.
SSPCA chief executive Kirsteen Campbell said: “Pet Aid will provide an invaluable service to people and pets feeling the full brunt of the cost-of-living crisis.
“Pet Aid is part of our wider commitment to early intervention when it comes to protecting animals. Wherever possible, we will act to stop a person feeling they have no choice but to give up their pet.”
The Scottish SPCA has seen a rise in calls to give up the most commonly owned types of pets. In the first six months of 2021, the charity received 194 calls to take in a dog from an owner. In the same period in 2022, this figure has risen by 261 per cent to 700.
Its animal rescue and rehoming centres have seen a rise in certain types of animals coming into care. For example, the number of dogs has increased by 15 per cent compared with 2021.
Kirsten touched on this subject as she highlighted that some of the conditions pet owners found themselves in were “horrendous” as they went hungry to ensure their pets could eat.
She added: “This year, our inspectors have had to support pet owners in some horrendous situations. We’re helping people - who are not buying food for themselves so they can feed their pets - who are calling our animal helpline in floods of tears because they feel they’ve let their animal down.
“Pet Aid will provide vital supplies of pet food to people. We’ll evaluate how the pilot goes, work with partners and speak to pet owners to understand what additional help they could benefit from. This will inform how Pet Aid grows in the months and years to come.”
Pet Aid launched on the heels of the publication of the Animal Kindness Index, a joint research item with the RSPCA to understand attitudes to animals in different parts of the UK.
That study, published in June, found that 72 per cent of UK pet owners think the cost of living will impact their animals. Almost 70 per cent expressed concern about the cost of care, and one in five worried about how they’ll afford to feed their pets.
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