Pet food banks in urgent need of donations
The charity is asking for donations of pet food.
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, which supports 87 food banks in east and central Scotland, has revealed that it is struggling to fulfil requests for pet food from owners in need.
Since February 2024, less than 50 per cent of pet food requests have been fulfilled, with demand far outstripping supply. In contrast, more than 75 per cent of pet food requests were fulfilled last year.
The problem has been caused by a large drop in donations coinciding with record demand. The charity is asking for help to replenish supplies.
Originally launched in 2019, the pet food bank service has seen demand increase dramatically in the past couple of years. Last year, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home distributed 671,000 pet meals through food banks and emergency food packs, more than double the amount provided the previous year.
Despite the fall in donations, the food banks were still able to provide 1,144 dogs and 2,124 cats with one week’s worth of food in April 2024.
Jamie Simpson, director of people and services at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: “Our pet food banks are a lifeline for thousands of dog and cat owners across east and central Scotland, who, without our support, may have to give up their loved pet.
“We rely solely on donations to provide food supplies and with the cost-of-living crisis, demand is increasing. The home is now at a point in which our food bank donations are critically low but demand for help is at a record high, so we are asking anyone who can to support us with a donation of dog or cat food, to help pet owners in need in the community and keep pets in loving homes.”
Information about how to support the food banks is available on the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home’s website.
Image © Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home
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