Scottish SPCA and Gail Porter need Sutherland residents to help celebrate Scottish Animal Week
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The Scottish SPCA (SSPCA) is delighted to have the support of animal lover and ambassador Gail Porter in celebrating Scottish Animal Week 2021 and they’d like the help of Sutherland residents too.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity hosts the week annually in September, and this year are taking the opportunity to celebrate the animals who have been there for people when they needed them the most.
This year Scottish Animal Week will run from September 13-19, and Gail Porter will help launch the week by asking the public to shine a light on the animals in their life.
The Society hopes to raise funds for Scotland’s animals over the week by asking the public to share how their pets have helped them through lockdown and the important role they play in their lives. Stories will then be displayed on the Society’s Hall of Fame webpage, and be entered into a draw to win prizes including six-months-worth of pet food.
The SSPCA is very grateful to CALA Homes who will be matching Scottish Animal Week donations up to £5,000 as part of a £40,000 sponsorship pledge made to the charity in 2020.
The Society has continued to rescue and care for animals throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and has cared for 7325 domestic animals across their nine animal rescue and rehoming centres in Scotland since March last year. They have also cared for 12,013 wild animals at their dedicated National Wildlife Rescue Centre.
They were successfully able to remove 2038 animals from situations where they were being mistreated or neglected, and have found loving forever homes for 4,769 animals, 209 of those animals were from the centre in Caithness and Sutherland, including cats like Luna.
SSPCA centre manager, Christine Urquhart, said: “Luna arrived at our centre in March, as she sadly wasn’t getting along with the other cats she lived with, and kept pinching all their food.
“Little did we know, Luna had actually eaten a very small cotton reel in her previous home and became very ill not long after she came in to our care. Thankfully, our specialist animal care staff were able to spot the signs that something wasn’t right. Luna went completely off her food, despite showing signs that she wanted to eat. She also passed very little faeces and began being sick.
“She was rushed to an emergency appointment with our vet, who put Luna under anaesthetic for x-rays. It was found that she had two foreign bodies in her intestines. The thread from the spool had wound around her gut which had caused perforation in four places.
“The vet advised us of the seriousness of her condition, and we prepared for the worst. Luna was extremely poorly, and her prognosis was very poor. She stayed with our vets for a good few days under observation and we were elated when against all odds her health improved. She wasn’t happy that she was on cage rest for a good while, whilst she recuperated in the centre."
Thanks to the staff at the centre, little Luna went from strength to strength once back in their care, and started to put weight on. She had her wound checked regularly and eventually had her stitches removed.
“After a few months of TLC she was pretty much back to being a normal, happy and healthy cat after her ordeal," said Christine.
“We were so happy when Luna was finally able to be rehomed at the beginning of June to a lovely lady who works from home in Orkney. We wanted Luna to have a home with someone who was around most of the day to keep an eye on her, as our vets had stated she wouldn’t be so lucky next time if it happened again.
“After a dramatic few months it has been great to hear how Luna is thriving in her new forever home.
“Many animals that come in to our centre need months of specialised attention and care before they are ready to be rehomed, and I’m proud to celebrate animals like Luna this Scottish Animal Week, and our dedicated teams who work tirelessly to help them become the best versions of themselves.”
People can find out more about supporting Scotland’s animals this Scottish Animal Week here: https://bit.ly/3yYNCEN
If you are concerned about an animal, please do not hesitate to contact the SSPCA confidential helpline on 03000 999 999. From as little as £1, you can save animals' lives through supporting the charity at www.scottishspca.org/support/donate
