Animal rescue charities are warning they are struggling to cope with a spike in demand after the Scottish SPCA cut back on wildlife callouts.
The SSPCA, Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity, has changed how it responds to certain types of wildlife rescues, such as small birds and mammals.
Members of the public are now being advised to transport injured or sick animals to a vet themselves.
Bosses have cited a “compliance issue” over the use of a euthanising drug by its rescue officers.
However, smaller volunteer-run animal rescue charities say they are being overrun with demand, and fear the animals may soon have nowhere to go.
‘It’s one phone call after another’
Alison Middleton turned her Perthshire home into a hedgehog rescue centre after she retired from teaching five years ago.
She’s had a spike in calls from local vets and members of the public asking for help, since the SSPCA’s change.
STV News“It will take us to breaking point,” she told STV News. “At the moment, it’s one phone call after another.
“Members of the public have tried contacting them and they’ve been advised to contact the vet.
“Vets then contact me because they’re not legally bound to look after wild animals but, apart from anything else, they’re very busy.
“There will come a point that I physically cannot accommodate one and I don’t know where I go then.
“I can’t say to a member of the public, Oh just leave it’. I don’t know the answer and that’s the scary bit.”
‘Animals will suffer because of this’
Campaigners are calling for the Scottish SPCA to urgently reverse its decision over animal welfare concerns.
Kevin Newell, who runs a wildlife protection business, said: “There’s already reports of vets refusing to take wildlife in.
“That now leaves members of the public with an injured, ill or orphaned animal that can’t get care at all.
“If vets say it’s not on them to do it, and the SSPCA refuse, then it’s leading people down a slippery slope.”
He added: “It’s putting animals at risk. Animals will suffer because of this.”
STV News‘This change is not about cost-cutting or scaling back’
Earlier this year, the Scottish SPCA’s website contact page welcomed visitors with the words: “Help an animal in need. If you are concerned about an animal or wildfire, you’re in the right place.”
Those words were removed sometime in spring.
STV NewsA note was added warning the charity receives a high volume of calls and that member of the public can help by making sure the helpline was available to animals in “urgent need of attention”.
At some point over the last month, the website was updated again.
It now has a section specifically for “injured wildlife” in which the SSPCA asks people to transport animals to their nearest vet themselves – if they are able to contain it – or ask someone they know with transport to help.
STV NewsThe Scottish SPCA declined STV’s request for an interview but, in a statement, said the change is only temporary and relates to a compliance issue over the veterinary drug pentobarbital.
It confirmed it was now asking members of the public to take small animals to a vet “where it is safe and practical to do so”.
A spokeperson said: “We want to reassure the public that this change is not about cost-cutting, or scaling back our services.
“It is a necessary measure to ensure legal compliance while maintaining our commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare.”
They continued: “We recognise that the temporary change may cause concern, particularly when it comes to the speed of response in certain cases.
“That’s why we are acting with urgency to resolve the issue and put in place a sustainable, compliant solution.”
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