SSPCA ban on public drop-ins

Scotland’s neglected and abandoned animals could be facing a longer wait for a new home following a public drop-in ban at Scottish SPCA centres.

A raft of measures announced by the national animal welfare organisation to protect its ongoing work will include an appointments-only set-up for people looking to rehome a pet.

The move will affect the organisation’s Angus, Fife and Tayside rescue and rehoming centre at Petterden, close to the A90 between Dundee and Forfar.

The society has also said it will temporarily stop accepting used blankets or towels as donations.

Animal foods and veterinary supplies have been built up by officials monitoring the development of the outbreak and officials have stressed the importance of the bond pet owners have with their animals in helping see them through the coronavirus crisis.

The Scottish SPCA operates nine centres across the country, cared for more than 20,000 animals and attended more than 220 incidents a day in 2019.

Scottish SPCA chief executive

Kirsteen Campbell said: “These precautionary measures are designed to make sure our dedicated animal welfare experts can still be in centres to look after animals and our inspectors and animal rescue officers can still be on-hand to rescue animals.”

The organisation’ education team will not visit schools until further notice and the society said it is developing a suite of materials parents can use if they are home-schooling their children.

The Scottish SPCA’s animal helpline can be reached on 03000 999 999.