The Scottish animal welfare charity SPCA is appealing to the public for their support as the lockdown continues.

They’ve launched a ‘Don’t Forget the Animals’ campaign as they continue to deliver life-saving services to animals nationwide.

Despite a fall in membership and donations due to the coronavirus outbreak, the society’s dedicated animal care teams have helped thousands of animals over the past month, over 140 a day.

The involvement of the Scottish SPCA can be the difference between life or death for animals like Mia, Olivia and Poppy. All three heavily pregnant cats are in the care of the Ayrshire and South West Scotland Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.

Mia and Olivia arrived at the centre with three other cats as their owner could no longer care for them. Poppy arrived as a stray suffering from a flea allergy. Now the team at the centre are gearing up to care for lots of kittens when they arrive.

Manager of the centre, Marion Hainey, said, “Our frontline teams, whether on our helpline, out on the road, or in a rescue centre, are still here fighting to rescue and care for every single animal we can.

“We know Scotland is a nation of animal lovers and now, more than ever, we ask that they don’t forget the animals.

“Our aim is to be here as long as animals and people need us, giving the likes of Mia, Poppy and Olivia a second chance in life.

“Every single person who signs up to support us with a monthly donation will make a difference and will save lives.”

In recent weeks, the Scottish SPCA has seen almost 1,500 members stop their monthly donations. This, combined with the cancellation of fundraising events, means it could face losing up to 20 percent of its income this year in a worst-case scenario. The society’s centre in Ayrshire needs more than £11,000 every month to care for animals.

  ********************

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We're not exaggerating when we say that the future of the Ayr Advertiser, and the vital local news service we've provided since 1803, is under threat.

Please consider supporting the Ayr Advertiser in whatever way you can – by paying just 90p for a copy of the paper, when you're shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others, or by subscribing to our e-edition here.

Thanks – and stay safe.