Increasing numbers of pet owners rely on the support of food banks to feed their animals

As the cost of living escalates, increasing demand is being made on food banks.  And not just to feed people – pet owners are being faced with the awful reality of not being able to afford food for their animals so have begun to rely on food banks to feed their beloved pets.

At the end of 2020 the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home supplied fifty food banks in East and Central Scotland with vital meals for pets.  They now supply 88 and requests from pet owners since last year has risen by 33%. To demonstrate just how much demand has increased, in October 2020 the Home provided 500 food bank meals – compared with a staggering 52,613 in October 2023.

Community Outreach Lead at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, Kirsten Gillon, said that the cost-of-living crisis is partly to blame.  She said, "The cost-of-living crisis has really accentuated the fact that people are needing help to feed their pets. And it's not always people who are on benefits who need us, it's also people who are working and can't access government support, so they are forced turn to our food banks."

The demand for pet food bank support is growing so rapidly it is currently outstripping supply.  Kirsten continued, "The need is just growing and growing, it's not declining in any way. The need is far greater than anything I thought it would be. And trying to find enough donations to fill the requests is really difficult.  We've tried to increase donations coming in and we try to split donations as fairly and equally as we can across locations. It's not always possible as we are at the mercy of the generous donations of the public."

Without food bank support from the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, some pet owners would be forced to surrender their beloved dog or cat, as this anonymous user explains, "Pets are key to my mental health as well as physical health and over all wellbeing. I didn't realise I could get help with dog food and have been going without so I could feed my two dogs. This help with food is so appreciated and allows us all to be fed and stay together."

The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home finds winter an especially difficult season as higher costs drain funds while demand for their vital services increases. To help get through the winter months, the Home recently launched a Winter Appeal, seeking donations to enable the Home to cope with the increased demand, continue providing vital support to animals in need and help people to keep their beloved pets at home.

To make a donation and to read more of their life-altering stories please visit www.edch.org.uk/winterappeal OR text SURRENDER to 70560 to donate £5.

Donations of £20 can provide a cat with the vaccinations they require to be rehomed or £100 could keep a dog warm in the Home for three months.

 Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you'll be opting into hearing more from Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. If you would like to donate but don't wish to hear more, text SURRENDERNOINFO instead.

The support of generous donors has kept Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home open for 140 years and given animals a safe place to recover, find love and to support 88 foodbanks across East and Central Scotland.