Animal charity's 'desperate' shortage of hand sanitiser solved by drinks firm donation

Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity has averted a “desperate” shortage of hand sanitiser for its staff thanks to one of the world’s biggest drinks firms.

The Scottish SPCA's care assistant, Heather, with Kaz the chihuahua, one of the many animals being cared for by the charity during the pandemic. Picture: Scottish SPCA

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said limited resources of sanitiser meant it was difficult for its workers to go about their jobs.

However, the charity has now received what it described as a “much needed” donation from Bacardi.

The drinks company has produced more than 8,500 litres of hand sanitiser across its Scottish distilleries over the past month, with the product distributed to frontline workers.

Anna O’Donnell, manager of the Scottish SPCA’s Glasgow-based animal rescue and rehoming centre, said that like many organisations, it had faced shortages of the product during the pandemic.

She said: “Hand sanitiser is something we desperately needed but due to limited resources and increased prices on online sites there was no way we could ask members of the public to donate this.

“This donation from Bacardi will allow our team to keep themselves safe while carrying out their vital work looking after the animals in our care.

“We are still working hard behind the scenes to make sure that animals like Kaz the chihuahua don’t suffer. We really are very grateful to Bacardi for helping us at this difficult time.”

In recent weks, the five Bacardi-owned distilleries in Scotland - Aberfeldy, Craigellachie, Aultmore, Royal Brackla and Macduff - plus its Glasgow-based Dewar’s whisky operations centre have distributed sanitiser to the likes of the Scottish Ambulance Association and Scottish Fire and Rescue, as well as care homes and hospitals.

Niall Mitchell, the firm’s operations director, said: “Our Dewar’s whisky operations centre in the east end of Glasgow and our distilleries across Scotland are proud supporters of their local communities, so supplying hand sanitiser to local healthcare workers and charities like the Scottish SPCA has been incredibly rewarding.

“As a family-owned company, doing the right thing is in Bacardi’s DNA and we’ll continue doing all we can to help make a difference in the fight against Covid-19.”

Although the Scottish SPCA’s centres are closed to the public, they are still accepting donations via their Amazon wishlists.

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