Now Brexit gets blame for abandoned cats and dogs

BOSSES at Scotland’s largest animal charity have been branded ‘ludicrous’ for claiming that Brexit has caused an upsurge in the mistreatment of pets.

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) slid into the red last year and blamed £288,000 losses on the 2016 vote to leave the EU.

In their annual report, directors claim this sparked such economic uncertainty that many more people are dumping their dogs and cats in an attempt to save money.

However, critics say the charity’s poor financial performance is more probably due to it paying its chief executive more than £250,000 last year.

Stuart Earley quit last autumn amid warnings his huge salary was deterring the public from making donations, but his reward for walking away was a wages, pension and payoff deal of £281,000, the latest accounts show.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: ‘As Brexit scare stories go, this one’s particularly far-fetched.

‘If the SSPCA wants to know why it’s running a deficit, it clearly needs to look closer to home.

‘To suggest Brexit is making people more cruel towards animals is ludicrous.’

The Scottish SPCA’s accounts show it made an operating loss of £288,000 in 2016 after producing a surplus of £55,000 in 2015.

But Mr Earley was paid between £220,000 and £230,000 – up from £190,000-£200,000 in 2015. His bumper salary has reportedly caused consternation among the charity’s traditional supporters, sparking a dip in donations.

However, directors insist politics is to blame for the extra pressure on its finances. Their report states: ‘Consumers feel strapped for cash and Scotland had... uncertainty as to whether a second [independ- ence] referendum could be triggered by Brexit.

‘While political uncertainty persists, economic stability will be jeopardised and people will put off long-term commitments such as rehoming an animal or come to the conclusions they can’t afford a pet and potentially abandon it.’

Ironically, the Scottish SPCA’s operating losses were recovered due to a £1.35million windfall from its shares portfolio, which leapt in value as the stock market soared in the wake of the Brexit vote.

The charity held a £600,000 holding in oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, which tests products on animals. It disposed of the stake in July, cashing in on an 8 per cent rise in value since the EU referendum.

The Scottish SPCA’s cash income remained steady last year at around £14.2million, though spending rose 2 per cent from £14.17million to £14.49million.

Compared to five years ago, the amount raised from legacies has dropped 18 per cent from £7.49million to £6.12 million while donations have dipped 5 per cent from £1.11million to £1.06million – though membership subs have risen 26 per cent from £3.83million to £4.81 million.

Kirsteen Campbell took over as chief executive in May.

Last night, chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: ‘As a result of rising demand for our services we have increased our operating costs. Economic uncertainty can also impact on any charity’s ability to raise funds.’

‘Particularly far-fetched’