Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home launches winter appeal
“Community support is so vital for the Home during these challenging months” – Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine.
The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has launched a winter appeal to help it fund the services it offers to animals and pet owners.
The charity, which has been helping animals for more than 140 years, has seen demand for its services significantly increase.
Between September 2023 and August 2024, the Home took in nearly 400 new animal arrivals, a record number of admissions. Between January and June this year, the charity also provided 306,247 meals to pets in Edinburgh.
The amount of surrender requests to the Home increased by 10 per cent between January and June 2024 compared to the same period last year. It also received 872 hours of calls.
However, between January and August the charity did successfully rehome 150 dogs and cats.
To raise awareness of its winter appeal, the Home has decorated the statues of Greyfriars Bobby and Bum the Dog in Edinburgh with blankets and scarves to symbolise the warmth and compassion provided to vulnerable animals and their owners by the community during winter.
The charity estimates that it will cost more than £22,000 to heat its premises during winter, in addition to the £7,000 a day it costs to provide its regular services.
Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: “Community support is so vital for the Home during these challenging months.
“The warm scarves and blankets adorning the Greyfriars Bobby and Bum the Dog statues serve as a beautiful reminder of the love and compassion we can extend to our vulnerable animals.
“These iconic figures, known for their loyalty, symbolise the bond we share with our pets, and together we can ensure that no animal in need is left without care and warmth this winter.”
More information about the winter appeal can be found here.
Image © Malcolm Cochrane Photography
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