STRUGGLING pet owners across Scotland have been thrown a lifeline by our Pet Aid service, which has helped thousands keep their beloved animals despite financial hardship, new statistics show.
With the cost of living crisis continuing to hit families hard, many owners have faced the heartbreaking reality of choosing between feeding themselves or their pets, and many people are also struggling with their pets’ behaviour or health. Last year alone, calls to our helpline by members of the public about giving up their pets increased by 24%.
Pet Aid was launched in 2023 to help keep pets and people together, stopping problems from spiralling and preventing animals needing to come into the charity’s care unnecessarily.
New figures now reveal that the Pet Aid service has dished out 66,895 meals for pets in 2024 alone – an average of 183 meals every single day, keeping animals from going hungry and helping people keep their much-loved pets.
One person the service has helped is Melanie Kiyani, and her dog Nala. Melanie accessed the Scottish SPCA’s Pet Aid after seeking help at the Strathmartine Community Larder Foodbank in Dundee.
Melanie said: “I got Nala, who’s a Jack Russell chihuahua cross, a couple of years ago at the end of the Covid lockdown. I’d always wanted a dog and she brought such joy to my life, Due to a variety of reasons it was a tough time – especially financially. Some days it was was the choice between feeding myself or Nala, and Nala won every time.
“I wouldn’t want to be without her but every week it was getting more and more of a struggle to make ends meet. That’s when Pet Aid help stepped in. Nala is three years old in May and I really don’t know where we’d be without the Pet Aid service. It has quite literally saved our lives.”
The service has helped over 8,335 owners and their pets across Scotland since its launch in 2023. Research by the University of Edinburgh has found the initiative, which operates through 52 foodbanks and 48 donation points, doesn’t just fill food bowls—it keeps families and their pets together.
Professor Jo Williams, who led the research, said:
“Pet Aid has enabled people to keep and look after their much-loved pets in times of financial crisis, when the loving support of pets is needed for human wellbeing. It has meant people and pets can stay together and avoided the grief that owners and their children experience when they lose a loved family pet.”
Pet Aid expanded in 2024 with the launch of Pet Aid Veterinary, a community-based vet service offering crucial health checks and medical care, thanks to funding from the Pets Foundation and a private donor. 489 animals were treated through the service in the Glasgow area in the first six months alone.
And this year our community support is expanding further, with new community animal behaviour support and the launch of Pet Aid Community Hubs.
The new Hubs bring the charity’s services and support into high streets and community centres across the country through ‘pop up’ events. At each event the public can get free health checks for their pets, access support for pet food, speak to an animal behaviourist, the adoption and fostering team, and more. The first Hub took place in Dundee on 2nd April and more dates are coming soon.
Scottish SPCA’s Head of Rehoming, Fostering & Community Engagement Jennie Macdonald said:
“We know that services like Pet Aid are providing a vital lifeline to thousands of people and their pets, and we are going much further in 2025 to bring this kind of early help and preventative support into communities across the country.
“No-one should have to choose between feeding themselves or their pet, or struggling with their pets’ health or behaviour because they are frightened about having to give up their much-loved companion.
“We can already see that our community services are better for animal welfare and better for local communities. Expanding our community services, reaching more animals and people than ever, is also the best use of our supporters’ money – every penny we receive is donated by the public. We are pleased to be bringing more of these services into communities this year to help keep more pets and people together where they belong.”
She says: “It’s great to give something back into the community and help through Pet Aid is needed more than ever. It got me back on track at a time I needed it most and now I love to help other people and their beloved pets too.”
For those who want to help struggling pet owners and their companions, donations can be made here
