English charity slammed over fundraising
AN English animal charity has been blasted for fundraising in Glasgow.
Street charity fundraisers from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home work on Sauchiehall Street to raise money for their London-based rehoming centres.
The move has attracted criticism from a leading Scottish charity who say it can be ‘confusing’ for the public to know where their money is going.
Donations made to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, which features on television series Paul O’Grady’s For the Love of Dogs, benefits their centres in London, Old Windsor and Brands Hatch.
The charity is currently in the process of registering for charity status in Scotland.
Although its presence in Glasgow is considered legally sound by the Scottish Charity Regulator, the organisation said all charities must abide my fundraising guidelines and ensure it is clear where the money they are collecting is going.
Kirsteen Campbell, Chief Executive of the SSPCA, said: “There is often public confusion when it comes to animal charities throughout the UK. It is the role of every charity to be clear with the public on the services provided and we are passionate about raising awareness of our work in Scotland.
“The Scottish SPCA is unique in that we support all animals in Scotland. We receive no government or lottery funding which means we rely on the public to be able to continue our work rescuing and rehoming animals in desperate need of our help.”
The Evening Times spoke to those being targeted by ‘chuggers’.
Yasmin Mawar, 25, from the city centre, fundraises for animal charities herself and believes there shouldn’t be a distinction between where the money is going.
She said: “I think as long as the money is going to animals in need then there’s no problem with whether it’s collected in Scotland or England.
“If the charity is making clear to people that they are helping animals in England then I see no issue.”
Gareth Mawar, 26, also from city centre, added: “Ani- mal welfare should always come first. I’m happy to give money away as long as it’s going to the things the fundraisers say it is.”
Animals in need should be the top priority according to Sinead Price-Green, 22, from Lockerbie.
She said: “People have a right to know where their money is going. If the charity worker makes it clear then I see no problem with English charities fundraising up here. As long as it goes to the animals in need, I don’t care where it’s going.”
The sentiment wasn’t shared by John Irvine, from Craigend, who believes all money should be kept in Scotland.
The 74-year-old added: “Any money that is raised in Scotland, should stay in Scotland. Whether that is for children, homeless or animals.
“Everything should be kept in Scotland because its people working here who have earned it.”
Jean Irvine, 59, also from Craigend, added: “There’s more than enough people and animals in need in Scotland to keep all the charities busy so why should we send money elsewhere?”
Dee McIntosh, spokeswoman for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said that the work of the charity involves tackling ‘major animal welfare issues in the UK such as cruelty, puppy farming, backstreet breeding and anti-social behaviour with dogs’.
She added: “Our remit is to help many thousands more animals across the UK that we will never see but that are in desperate need of help.
“We rely on public donations as we receive no Government support. We have been fundraising across the UK for many years and we’re grateful to all the Scots who are aware of our work in animal welfare, who want to get further involved with us and who choose to donate to our cause.”