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Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home makes final appeal for winter support
"Every donation, big or small, makes a real difference." - Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine.
The charity aims to raise £134,500 to care for pets during the winter months.

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has called on the public to help it reach the £134,500 goal of its Winter Appeal.

The Home says that these funds will be vital to cover the costs of rising care this winter, with heating costs expected to reach £22,000.

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home costs approximately £3 million a year to stay open. It receives no government funding and relies almost entirely on donations.

In the past year, it reports that it has processed 1,635 surrender requests. It says that this figure nearly matches the entire estimated dog population in the EH1 postcode.

Due to this rise in demand, the Home has often been forced to turn people away from its services.

As well as calls to surrender pets, the Home receives many calls from pet owners seeking advice on caring for pets during times of financial struggle. From January to June 2024, the charity received 17,995 calls, exceeding the 17,021 calls that were received throughout the entirety of 2023.

This has amounted to 872 hours of support over the charity’s helpline. Call handlers provide people with emotional support so that they can keep their pets, as well as signposting resources, training tips and practical advice.

Alongside the challenges, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has also marked a number of successes.

So far, the Home has found families for 216 dogs and cats. It has also been able to reunite 95 missing pets with their owners.

Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: "We’ve seen an overwhelming demand for our services this year. Each call we take, and each family we support, reminds us why this work is so vital.

“Our Winter Appeal is about ensuring we can continue being a beacon of hope for pets and their people in the toughest of times.

“Every donation, big or small, makes a real difference."

Visit the charity’s website for more details.

Image © Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.