SSPCA makes fundraising call to help expand rescue centre

Published on Thursday 4 September 2008 09:44

SCOTLAND'S biggest animal charity today launched a fundraising drive for a massive expansion of its rescue centre at Balerno.

The Scottish SPCA said in the past it has had to turn animals away from its Lothian Animal Welfare Centre because it was full to overflowing.

Now the charity is set to double the size of the centre and add new facilities, allowing it to treat an extra 1000 animals a year.

Work on new kennels, a cattery and dedicated facilities for reptiles is due to start later this year.

Today the SSPCA launched an appeal for funds during Scottish Animal Week, which runs until Saturday.

The 250,000 redevelopment at Balerno will see an extra 20 kennel spaces created in a new building, 26 cat units redeveloped, a purpose-built reptile room and a new small animal room for hamsters, mice and guinea pigs.

The isolation unit, used for sick animals and dogs with puppies, will also be expanded.

Animals arrive at the centre as strays, cruelty cases or because their owners are no longer able to look after them. The charity said the scheme was intended to ensure every animal gets the best level of care possible.

Recent arrivals have included seven kune kune pigs – which became 20 when two of the females gave birth – and a wild boar.

A litter of two-week-old puppies found abandoned in Edinburgh and taken to Portobello police station are currently being nursed back to full heath.

The Balerno centre at Mansfield Farm originally opened as a rest home for horses in 1928, but over the years it branched out to cater for cats, dogs and other animals.

The redevelopment project will double the centre's capacity to 2000 animals per year.

Kenny Sharpe, assistant manager of the centre, said: "Our centre is always packed. If it's not rabbits being dumped at Easter or animals being abandoned because their owners are going on summer holiday, it's old dogs being thrown out for the Christmas puppy and that puppy then being kicked out once the novelty has worn off.

"In between we have a steady stream of unwanted animals and cruelty cases brought in by our inspectors.

"We receive no government or lottery funding, so we rely on public donations. Everything we do is only made possible by our supporters and we're hoping that animal lovers in the Lothians can rally round and help."

The expansion plans were first proposed at the end of 2005 after the centre had to divert animals to other centres across Scotland, including Dundee, Glasgow and the Borders, because it was full.

Work on the project is due to start later this year and is scheduled to take around eight months, which means it should all be ready for next summer.

The project is part of a 3 million drive by the SSPCA to refurbish and upgrade animal centres across the country.

To get in touch, call 03000 999 999 or log on to www.scottishspca.org