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Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home makes final appeal for winter support
"Every donation, big or small, makes a real difference." - Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine.
The charity aims to raise £134,500 to care for pets during the winter months.

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has called on the public to help it reach the £134,500 goal of its Winter Appeal.

The Home says that these funds will be vital to cover the costs of rising care this winter, with heating costs expected to reach £22,000.

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home costs approximately £3 million a year to stay open. It receives no government funding and relies almost entirely on donations.

In the past year, it reports that it has processed 1,635 surrender requests. It says that this figure nearly matches the entire estimated dog population in the EH1 postcode.

Due to this rise in demand, the Home has often been forced to turn people away from its services.

As well as calls to surrender pets, the Home receives many calls from pet owners seeking advice on caring for pets during times of financial struggle. From January to June 2024, the charity received 17,995 calls, exceeding the 17,021 calls that were received throughout the entirety of 2023.

This has amounted to 872 hours of support over the charity’s helpline. Call handlers provide people with emotional support so that they can keep their pets, as well as signposting resources, training tips and practical advice.

Alongside the challenges, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has also marked a number of successes.

So far, the Home has found families for 216 dogs and cats. It has also been able to reunite 95 missing pets with their owners.

Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: "We’ve seen an overwhelming demand for our services this year. Each call we take, and each family we support, reminds us why this work is so vital.

“Our Winter Appeal is about ensuring we can continue being a beacon of hope for pets and their people in the toughest of times.

“Every donation, big or small, makes a real difference."

Visit the charity’s website for more details.

Image © Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
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Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.