Tag: running costs

Loyal donors power Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home as daily costs surpass £7,000

As charities across the UK face increasing financial pressure and a decline in overall donations, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is thanking its community of regular donors whose ongoing support is helping transform the lives of pets and their owners.

Today, 3,044 regular donors collectively fund approximately one sixth of the charity’s work and aid in ensuring animals receive the care they need all year round.

With rising energy and operational costs placing growing pressure on animal welfare charities, the Home is highlighting the vital role that consistent, monthly donations play in keeping its doors open. It costs around £7,000 per day to run the Home, which receives no government funding and relies almost entirely on the generosity of the public.

Amelia Morgan, CEO at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: “Regular giving allows us to plan for the future and ensure these wonderful animals receive the highest quality of care all year round, no matter what.

“We are endlessly grateful for the continuing support of our regular donors who help us be there for dogs and cats who need us.”

Even small monthly donations have a direct impact, from helping provide food for growing kittens and puppies, to covering essential treatments, specialist diets, and dedicated behavioural training to help dogs thrive.

That ongoing support is what enables the charity to make rehoming stories like Hamish’s possible.

Hamish, an anxious collie, spent almost a year in the Home’s care after struggling to trust new people. The team worked patiently to build his confidence, knowing it would take time for him to truly come out of his shell and find the right person for Hamish.

That moment came when he met his new owner Paul. Visit by visit, trust began to grow, until Hamish was ready to take the next step. Today, he is thriving, full of life, loyal and enjoying the loving home he deserves.

Hamish’s journey is just one example of the impact regular donations make every day. In 2025 alone, the Home accepted 343 animals, rehomed or reunited 318 pets, and provided more than 636,000 meals through community food banks, support that met only half of the demand seen across the region.

As demand continues to grow, the charity says regular giving will play an increasingly important role in ensuring it can continue to support pets and their owners through challenging times.

Amelia added: “Every single regular donation helps us be there for animals like Hamish and the thousands more who need us each year.

“To everyone who already supports us, thank you. You are making a real and lasting difference every single day.”

To donate to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, please visit:

https://edch.org.uk/donate/

  • £5 Could help pay for nourishing food to help a kitten or puppy to grow
  • £10 Could help pay for flea, worming, and parasite treatment for a new dog or cat on arrival.
  • £20 Could help pay for special dietary food for pets who need specialised care.

BDA: Scotland can’t have NHS dentistry without NHS dentists

The British Dental Association has warned the Scottish Government must step up to prevent a wholesale exodus from the service in April, following new figures from the Scottish Liberal Democrats suggesting an 8% fall in the number of NHS dentists since lockdown.

The professional body warns that dentists have little sense of what payment system they will be working to come 1 April. On 1 October the Scottish Government cut the ‘multiplier’ designed to support the pandemic recovery, that increased NHS fees by 1.3. A lower bridging payment’ took effect uplifting NHS fees at a rate of 1.2 for the next three months, falling to 1.1 for the period up to April 2023. 

While COVID emergency measures have been withdrawn, practices continue to face an historic backlog, with many patients requiring more extensive treatment having bottled up problems during the pandemic. 

The BDA say that in the weeks ahead progress must be made to deliver needed change to the broken high volume/low margin model NHS dentistry is based on. Without reform it stresses we will see a further flight of dentists from the NHS that is already evident in other UK nations. 

Facing surging practice running costs, the BDA says that without an adequate interim funding package several key treatments, and anything – like dentures – that requires laboratory work, risk being delivered at a financial loss. 

Robert Donald, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Council said: “Ministers need to understand that Scotland can’t have NHS dentistry without NHS dentists. 

“Today colleagues have little sense of what the future will bring when the last pandemic support is pulled away.

“What they do know is this service hasn’t bounced back, and that some NHS treatments are now being delivered at a loss.  “The Scottish Government needs to make a serious long-term commitment to prevent a wholesale exodus from the NHS.”