08th Aug 2008 - Locals urged to volunteer for Scottish Animal Week

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for local volunteers to help raise crucial funds during Scottish Animal Week, from 1-6 September.

The Scottish SPCA's Lanarkshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre cared for more than 2,600 abandoned and abused animals last year, which is an astonishing feat considering it is funded purely by public donations, with the charity receiving no government or lottery assistance.

Scottish Animal Week is a hugely important time for the charity as it is the one week of the year when it is allowed to fundraise in public.  Michelle Grubb, head of fundraising at the Scottish SPCA, said:  "As Scotland's animal welfare charity, we cared for more than 12,000 animals last year.  It's not just cats and dogs either, from wild boar to pythons and pelicans, the range of animals that need our help is amazing!

"But to do this we need money and we need local support to help us raise that money, so anyone who can spare some time during Scottish Animal Week from 1-6 September to help us collect would be doing a great service to vulnerable animals in their area."

Without support from the public the Scottish SPCA wouldn't have been able to care for seven kune kune pigs which needed new homes when their owner could no longer care for them.

And their dedicated staff and volunteers wouldn't have been able to rescue and re-home five puppies left for dead in a cardboard box on waste ground in sub-zero temperatures.

To volunteer to help during Scottish Animal Week, please contact Carol Dyer on 07921 409 021 or log on to www.scottishspca.org.