Animal charity in bills plea

A TAYSIDE pet rescue charity is appealing for help after a bout of illness struck seven kittens for which it must meet the medical bills.

Angus Cat Rescue i s looking to rehome more than 30 cats.

The voluntary group’s founder Angela Smith and a team of “foster families” help to care for animals which are sick, injured or abandoned.

While Angela enjoys her work, all of the animals’ vet bills are met by her.

As a result, when any of her cats are struck down with illness, Angela has to cover bills totalling thousands of pounds.

The group regularly takes part in fundraising efforts but is struggling to meet costs.

Angela said: “We’re running in excess of 30 cats currently.

“We were hit with a bout of illness which led to a lot of bowel issues for seven kittens.

“It’s a virus which can turn really nasty.Treatment can cost in excess of £200.

“I hate asking for money but we’re always looking for donations.”

Audrey Spratt, 55, made a series of complaints against Orchar Nursing Home in Beach Crescent about the treatment of her 86-year-old mother, Alice, which were investigated by the Care Inspectorate.

Following the probe, the regulator upheld some of the concerns raised by Audrey.

It comes after the home evicted Alice, who now lives in Aberdeen, because bosses said Audrey had behaved “unacceptably” after making complaints about her mother’s care.

One of the complaints upheld against the home related to Alice being bitten on the finger by a visiting dog.

Audrey said: “First of all, the care home told me my mum had fallen over and fractured her wrist, then they said she had a urinary infection and the next thing was they said she had been bitten by a dog.

“I couldn’t believe it. I wondered what was going to happen next. The dog’s tooth went right through her finger — she can’t move it well now.”

Another complaint upheld was about an instance where the nursing home had “failed to ensure and promote the healing and health and safety” of the pensioner when she was able to remove a cast three times following the fracture to her wrist.

The manager of the home admitted to inspectors that Alice had taken off the cast three times and that staff had found it difficult to ensure she did not remove it. The Care Inspectorate said there was no support plan or risk

A BROUGHTY Ferry nursing home has been told to make a series of improvements after several complaints against it were upheld — including one about a pensioner being bitten by a dog.