Desperate plea from SSPCA seeking donations to help wild animals in care

Scotland’s largest animal welfare charity yesterday issued a desperate plea for donations for wild animals in its care.

The Scottish SPCA said it was “feeling the effects of coronavirus and desperately needs donations” for animals including orphaned fox cubs and injured hedgehogs in its wildlife hospital.

The charity has closed its nine animal rescue and rehoming centres to the public to protect staff and visitors from the spread of Covid-19.

However, its animal rescue officers and inspectors are still responding to calls to rescue injured wildlife, which are then brought to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire.

They are now running short of supplies of wet puppy meat for fox cubs, hedgehog food and cleaning products, as well as sanitiser, and have asked for donations online via the charity’s Amazon wishlists.

Operations manager Anna Keen said, “This is a very difficult time for us. Our team is working incredibly hard to continue to provide the animals with the care they need.

“We are currently in fox cub season and coming in to fledgling season so this is when we start to get even busier.

“Our helpline is still operating and our rescue officers and inspectors are still rescuing injured wild animals from across Scotland. Therefore, we will still have animals coming in needing rehabilitated. It can be a struggle to keep up with hungry mouths to feed.

“Due to the uncertain times right now with people not being able to leave the house we are receiving less donations than usual.

“But, it’s not all doom and gloom – our animals are still receiving the attention they need from our dedicated team. As far as they are concerned, it’s business as usual.

“We are in need of a selection of items such as wet puppy meat for our fox cubs to hedgehog food and cleaning products.

“Hand sanitiser is another thing we desperately need but due to the increased prices we would not expect members of the public to donate this.

“We don’t want people dropping food at our centres due to the government guidelines so we are asking that food be donated from our Amazon wishlists.”

Donations can be purchased from the centre’s Amazon wishlistamzn. to/3dpcjmu

Picture: PA. Ratty the hedgehog.