Petition plea to save Scottish SPCA's Caithness and Sutherland Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre
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A former volunteer says there are significant concerns about animal welfare in the far north after a charity announced it was to close its local rescue centre.
Vicki Edmunds has set up a petition against the Scottish SPCA plans to close the Caithness and Sutherland Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre at Balmore, Reay.
It had already gained more than 1500 signatures by yesterday, having been set up on Monday.
The SSPCA said at the end of August that it would close two of its "smaller animal rescue centres" – one in Caithness and another rural one in Ayr – as part of a wider strategy to expand services within the community. The Caithness centre is due to close at the end of October.
The SSPCA said it aimed to triple the number of animal foster carers across the country as well as growing community partnerships and outreach work.
The announcement was met with criticism in the county, with the much-loved centre providing a valuable space for injured and abandoned pets and wildlife.
Ms Edmunds (46), a project worker who volunteered at the centre before the pandemic and has adopted many animals from there over the years, said it was a lifeline for animals as well as for people looking for pets in the area.
And she questioned what would happen to the 32 animals currently at the Balmore centre.
She said: “There’s a lot of concern over the animal welfare aspect. What happens to animals now when that centre is gone?
“All these animals need to be rehomed or rehoused within SSPCA, so by closing the centre they’re losing a lot of resource and the skilled teams that look after them as well.
“The SSPCA say themselves they are in the middle of an animal welfare crisis and yet we’re closing desperately needed spaces.
“Most of the centres in Scotland are full to capacity and no additional spaces are being created by this, it’s all hoping they can get fosterers.
“They are looking at enhancing the fostering arrangements but all of the local charities struggle to get fosterers up here and most of the animals that are due to go into the centre are not in a fit medical or mental health position to be fostered.”
She is urging the charity to reverse its decision and wants as many people as possible to sign the petition, which can be seen at www.change.org/p/save-balmore-animal-welfare-and-rescue-centre
The nearest SSPCA centre after the closure will be in Inverness and Ms Edmunds said expecting people to travel down the A9 for rehoming added unnecessary costs and had a negative environmental impact, while a suggestion from the charity that animals could be brought to the far north to meet prospective owners would be stressful for animals, she claimed.
Ms Edmunds said: “One of the things in the strategy is that they would possibly bring animals up from Inverness to meet prospective owners. That’s a lot of stress on a dog and it’s even more stress on a cat. And if there is no bond then they’ve got to go back.
“You need to know that the right pet and the right home are being matched together.”
In her petition statement, she added: “Balmore Animal Welfare Centre gives potential owners the ability to bond with their new pet prior to rehoming. By removing the centre, that ability is taken away unless potential owners travel minimum of 220 miles round trip, incurring steep hotel and fuel costs.
“Closure of the Balmore centre also removes any personal aftercare when the centre’s skilled staff are no longer accessible.”
The Scottish SPCA said it had made it clear that animals currently at the centre would be rehomed, fostered or moved to another centre. It also clarified that the number of animals cared for at Balmore was 213, of which 88, or 42 per cent, came from other SSPCA sites.
It admitted that a figure of nine animals coming from the local area, which it had quoted earlier, was due to “human error”, and that 125 animals were brought in or rescued from the vicinity.
Scottish SPCA chief executive Kirsteen Campbell said: “We understand that the closure of the centre is causing concern locally. The decision has been taken with the intent of expanding the services we provide in Caithness and the north of Scotland.
“Our animal helpline, local inspectors and animal rescue officers will continue to be there every single day of the year to respond to urgent reports of animals in need. Our education service will continue and grow. Now, this team will be supported by dedicated people delivering key services such as rehoming, fostering and community engagement.
“The brilliant team who currently work at the centre have all been offered the opportunity to deliver these essential services.”
A spokesperson added that the charity would work with its local teams and tailor rehoming or fostering to the individual needs of rescue animals and the individual interested in taking an animal into their home, including “removing barriers” such as travel when appropriate.
They added that the ambition was that the number of foster homes the charity can recruit in the north of Scotland will significantly exceed the capacity of the centre. “We make every effort to minimise disruption and stress for animals which are adopted or fostered,” they said.
