Tag: Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home launches urgent Winter Appeal 

Demand for support has risen as the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has received record number of surrender requests 

As the cost of living remains at an all-time high, the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has reported a record number of surrender requests and demand for their support at food banks across East and Central Scotland has increased.   

The charity’s Winter Appeal is calling out for support to enable them to provide vital aid for animals in need and help people to keep their beloved pets at home this winter. 

This July the Home received their highest number of surrender requests on record – a staggering 236% increase from October 2022, and between January and August 2023 the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home rehomed 167 dogs and 81 cats. The Home have also only been able to take in 8.8% of the surrender requests due to the high demand. 

In 2019 the Home launched a series of food banks around Edinburgh and reaching as far north as Stirling and as far south as the Borders, to support pet-owners who are going through a tough time and are at risk of having to surrender their pets.  Whether through preventative community work or caring for and rehoming animals who come to them, the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home gives their all to support dogs and cats in East and Central Scotland.  

The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is also a place of refuge for animals who have been victims of abuse. The charity recently saved the life of Bagel, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who was victim of years of chronic neglect.

Emaciated, blind due to a dry eye condition, deaf due to severe ear mites, anaemic and malnourished, the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home’s in-house vet, Bridget, said that when Bagel arrived, she was half the weight she should have been. 

“Poor Bagel was in a sorry way when she came to us,” Bridget explained. “Years of dirt and grime were matted in to her fur and because she was so sick her body had stopped producing hair so she had bald patches all over.

“Incredibly, with months of constant treatment and care, Bagel made a full recovery. It has been incredible to see her gain the energy and newfound confidence to enjoy life.” 

Depending on the funding from public donations and the assistance of volunteer support to help staff, The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home finds winter an especially difficult season as high energy prices drain funds while demand for their vital services increases. 

Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, explained, “We have seen a devastating increase in the number of surrender requests that we have received this year. This is due to various factors, including financial difficulties, behavioural issues and personal circumstances.

“We have supported pets for 140 years and it’s so important now, more so than ever, that we continue to receive donations and help provide dogs like Bagel with a safe place to recover, find love and also enable owners going through hard times to stay together with their pets. 

“We don’t judge anyone or their circumstances and know that the rise in the cost of living has caused some to struggle to make ends meet. Winter can be especially tough and we are appealing to those who can to make a donation. £20 can provide a cat with the vaccinations they require to be rehomed or £100 could keep a dog warm in the Home for three months.”   

To make a donation please visit www.edch.org.uk/winterappeal 

OR

text SURRENDER to 70560 to donate £5. 

 
Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more, text SURRENDERNOINFO instead. 

Urgent support needed to avoid a pet crisis across Edinburgh the Lothians

 

“Following my recent visit to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home (EDCH) in Seafield, I attended their parliamentary drop-in session yesterday supported by animal campaigner and TV Presenter Kirsty Gallacher at the Scottish Parliament (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP).

“CEO Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine and her Team at EDCH have been doing tremendous work to alleviate pet poverty across the Lothian region and beyond, ensuring pet owners are not separated from their families.

“Many pet owners across Scotland have been struggling to keep their much beloved pets at home as they can no longer pay for food, heat and vet bills particularly with the cost of living crisis which has exasperating the situation post-Covid.

“This has been very traumatic for cat and dog owners whose pets are part of the family, providing them with joy, comfort and security.

“Edinburgh Dog and Cat home Pet Food Bank launched in 2019, provides pet food, jackets, blankets, leads, collars, bowls and bedding to those who can no longer afford their pets’ needs or care for them properly due to financial difficulties, an illness, homelessness or other social issues.

“It is important that we raise awareness that these Pet Food banks do exist and are there to support pet owners when needed. To guarantee pet supplies are available, EDCH has partnered up with 88 human food banks and has been supporting over 3,800 pets each month across the Lothians, Fife, Falkirk and The Borders.

“However, The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has been struggling with the rising costs-of-living. CEO Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine reached out to me at the end of last year to make me aware of the significant challenges the Pet Home has been going through due the rising costs.

“In November last year, the Home was hit with a huge increase in annual electricity and gas costs– equating to £130K of unanticipated funding that Lindsay has been desperate to find. This is an addition to £200K needed to cover increased supplier costs.

“These increases are just unsustainable in addition to coping with the increase of pet owners having to give up their cats and dogs. Lindsay informed me that the phone calls are increasing 7 days a week, with calls up 55% from December to January.

“The energy and cost increases are just exasperating an already struggling pet home, and animal charities like EDCH do not have the option to turn the lights and heating off. They have pets who need their care and rehabilitation as well as staff who need them to care for them while they carry out their mission both on the Home’s site and right across East and Central Scotland.

“EDCH has been working to exhaustion point to avoid a major pet crisis, keeping our communities together, making sure our pets are cared for and assuring owners can keep their pets to avoid the trauma of losing their beloved pet. We all know how our pets play a central part within our family lives, they give many who would find themselves completely lonely and isolated company and a reason to live for.

“In the past months, I have raised questions to the Scottish Government regarding the impacts of the cost crisis on pet ownership and I will continue to put pressure on them to ensure our pet homes avoid the prospect of closing.

“Our local animal shelters like EDCH need our support and we need to see practical action beyond donations to ensure the survival of this 140-year old animal shelter to keep our animals safe and sheltered, and avoid painful separation from their owners.”

“If you are able to donate, donations can be made on Donate – Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home (edch.org.uk)”.

Choudhury: Avoiding a Pet Crisis across Edinburgh & The Lothians

Responding after hearing of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home in Seafield facing the cost crisis that is set to put it on its knees, Foysul CHoudhury MSP said: “I was very concerned of hearing the struggles that The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home (EDCH) is currently facing with the rising costs-of-living.

“CEO Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine reached out to me at the end of last year to make me aware of the significant challenges the Pet Home has been going through due the cost-of-living crisis.

“Just last November, the Pet home received next year’s annual electricity and gas costs showing an increase by 205% and 576% respectively – equating to £130K of unanticipated funding that Ms Fyffe-Jardine will desperately need to find. This is an addition to £200K needed to cover increased supplier costs.

“These increases are just unsustainable in addition to coping with the increase of pet owners having to give up their cats and dogs. Lindsay informed me that the phone calls are increasing 7 days a week and the human foodbanks they are supporting with pet food, blankets and leads will increase to 70+ – equating to supporting now 2,600 families across the Lothians, Fife, Falkirk and The Borders.

“I met Lindsay and her amazing team shortly after I got elected in 2021 when I visited the EDCH in Seafield. The Team worked tirelessly during Covid to cope with exponential rehoming when people were losing their jobs, no longer being able to afford them, people going to care homes, having to go to a homeless shelter or other owner’s hardship. This is only set to get worse.

“The energy and cost increases are just exasperating an already struggling pet home, and animal charities like EDCH do not have the option to turn the lights and heating off. They have pets who need their care and rehabilitation as well as staff who need them to care for them while they carry out their mission both on the Home’s site and right across East and Central Scotland.

“EDCH has been working to exhaustion point to avoid a major pet crisis, keeping our communities together, making sure our pets are cared for and assuring owners can keep their pets to avoid the trauma of losing their beloved pet. We all know how our pets play a central part within our family lives, they give many who would find themselves completely lonely and isolated company and a reason to live for.

“In the past months, I have raised questions to the Scottish Government regarding the impacts of the cost crisis on pet ownership and will continue to do so this year. I will be visiting one of EDCH foodbank partners in Granton, run by the Salvation Army tomorrow to raise more awareness, find out more on their needs in the year ahead and how I can support them.

“I will continue to raise awareness in 2023 of this pet crisis that is just on our doorstep and I look forward to visiting the foodbank at Granton Salvation Army and meeting Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home passionate team again.

“Our local animal shelters need our support and we need to see practical action beyond donations to ensure the survival of this 140-year old animal shelter to keep our animals safe and sheltered, and avoid painful separation from their owners.”

“If you are able to donate, EDCH have a winter appeal where donations can be made on Donate – Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home (edch.org.uk)”.

Stocky & Dee’s ‘Pup-cycle’ charity initiative gives dog collars a new lease of life

–  Luxury dog brand encourages customers to return used puppy collars – 

Luxury dog accessories firm, Stocky & Dee, is encouraging pet owners to do their bit to cut out waste and return their used puppy collars. Stocky & Dee’s ‘Pup-cycle’ initiative up-cycles outgrown puppy collars and donates them to dogs homes to be worn again. 

The charity initiative from the Edinburgh-headquartered family business asks customers to send back collars which their puppy has outgrown in return for a discount on a future purchase.

Stocky & Dee refurbishes these collars, if required, and donates them to a different dog charity every month with the first being The Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home. Their Pup-cycle initiative is one of the many ways Stocky & Dee encourages the reusability of their products and helps in their drive to be a sustainable business that does not negatively impact the environment. 

Customers can follow the journey of their returned collar by visiting Stocky & Dee’s website where they can see their former puppy collar with its new owner.

To date the company has refurbished and donated 65 collars to five dog homes in the UK. This is an extension to their ‘Puppy Pack’ offer where customers are offered a puppy collar for half price when purchasing the fully grown collar. 

In addition to up-cycling outgrown puppy collars, Stocky & Dee will soon be launching a service that sees no used Stocky & Dee products end up in landfill. As each piece is built by one of the Stocky & Dee team they have the ability to up-cycle, alter and be creative with these used products so they can continue to be used. This includes anything from the metal on each product to the yarn fabrics used. 

Founder of Stocky & Dee and textiles graduate, Mairi Robb, said: “We want to be with our customers on their whole dog journey from pup to pensioner. As dog owners, we understand how much people want to spoil their new pups but appreciate how expensive this can be, especially considering how fast they grow.

“Our puppy pack allows customers to treat their puppies without breaking the bank and our Pup-cycle initiative allows them to send back these collars, in return for a voucher and see it continue it’s life with a new owner. 

Katie Kennedy, Corporate Engagement and Events Co-ordinator at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home said: “Through Stocky & Dee’s support and their Pupcycle initiative we’ve been able to provide our furry residents with the trendiest collars. 

“As we receive no regular government funding we rely heavily on the generous support of the public, companies, and charitable trusts to fund our work. We are very grateful for the support that Stocky & Dee has shown us throughout lockdown to now and look forward to continuing the partnership.” 

During the peak of the pandemic when animal charities were hit hard across the globe, Stocky & Dee created a bespoke Rainbow Dog Collar with donations going to Mrs Murrays Dog & Cat Home in Aberdeen, raising over £1000 for them so far.

The design was so popular that it has been made part of the permanent collection.  

Stocky & Dee was launched in Scotland in 2019 by husband and wife team Mairi and Chris Robb. It has experienced rapid growth, partly as a result of the surge in pet ownership during the pandemic. 

JFK stage Tough Dugger event

On Sunday 19th August furry friends came together to take part in Hair by JFK’s ‘Tough Dugger’ fun agility course at the Bruntsfield Links, just across the road from their salon on 1 Bruntsfield Place. Hair by JFK is a dog friendly salon and have been huge supporters of the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home charity for over 10 years, supporting the charity in any way they can.

On the day over twenty adorable dogs, all shapes and sizes rounded up and individually ran around Hair by JFK’s agility course with their owners. Every contestant who took part was timed and a prize was given to the dog that was fastest to complete the course, where pups flew over hurdles, whipped around poles, and jumped through hoops.

Tough Dugger rosettes were presented to the top five fastest dogs and rosettes and doggy beer and crisps sets donated by House of Hound were provided to dogs who won the ‘special categories’, which included dog with the waggiest tale, most appealing eyes, most handsome chap, prettiest girl and most well groomed.

All participants were also treated to goodie bags kindly donated by Dofos Pet Shop in Edinburgh, and the final donation amount of around £200 was given to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home from Hair by JFK.

Director of Hair by JFK, Karen Brown, commented, “This was the second year running of our Tough Dugger event to raise awareness and funds for the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, a charity we regularly work with and that is very close to our hearts at Hair by JFK.

“The event was a great success and we were thrilled that so many dog owners and their dogs from across the city attended to take part in the obstacle course and have some fun whilst raising awareness for the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home charity, whilst also promoting a great way to keep dogs active and healthy!

“We also had some great companies that helped us make our event even bigger than better than last year including Josee’s Happy Hounds and Happy Hound Canine Massage who we can’t thank enough for their support. Dofos also provided us with some incredible goodie bags and House of Hound provided us with some lovely prizes for the day.” 

To make a donation via our event page to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hair-by-jfk-toughdugger