Dog and cat home fears for future as donations tumble

An unprecedented number of animals needing help, combined with spiralling veterinary costs and a slump in public donations has forced the centre to dip into its cash reserves.

The centre, which is currently celebrating 50 years at its Seafield base, saw income from donations and legacies drop to 592,392 in the 12 months to January 31, from 920,000 last year.

But the number of dogs abandoned has increased by more than 20 per cent in recent months, and bosses say more owners are dumping sick or injured pets to avoid paying for treatment, leaving the centre to foot the bill. Last year around 3300 dogs were given help, but this year the number needing medical aid could rise to almost 4000.

The EDCH, which first opened in Comely Bank in 1883, hopes to turn around its fortunes with a new website where supporters can donate online, but warned it had already been forced to eat into emergency savings. A total of 28,000 was spent on vet's bills last year - but bosses fear next year's figure could be as high as 35,000.

Chairman David Ewing said: "We hope our drive to raise more money will make a huge difference. If it does not, we will have a problem. Due to good budgeting in previous years we have savings that we can use in situations like this, which could last a number of years. But if it continues, we will not be able to do any improvements or expansion and it would not be feasible to keep going long-term.

He added: "We are relying on public support which is already very generous.

"Last year was a pretty poor year for us and we need more money than that for the centre to be sustainable year-on-year.

"People just don't send off cheques any more or bother to write letters in. With the website, they can donate whenever they want and it is very easy, so we expect that will help."

More than half the dogs admitted to the centre need medical treatment - which starts at around 60 for minor ailments like ear infections. The cost of surgery can run into hundreds of pounds.

Rosemary Eggleston, treasurer of the EDCH, added it had taken in hundreds of dogs claimed to have been found as strays, or to have become too aggressive for their owners to look after, only to find an underlying medical problem needing expensive treatment.

She said: "We are definitely seeing that a lot more. People come to us with a story that their dog has turned aggressive and they can no longer cope, or they say an animal is a stray, when it clearly is not - and when we take it on, we find it has a medical problem.

"Often it is something that can be treated, then the animal can be rehoused anyway - but it is an extra expense to look after the dog while it recovers.

"People are finding it harder to pay vet bills. We use the Royal Dick Veterinary School, which is a teaching hospital and they are very good with what they charge us, but it is still a big worry as it is a lot for a charity to pay."

Link to Edinburgh Cat and Dog home website@