The Scots have proved themselves to be the biggest animal lovers in the UK, raising almost £160k for Support Adoption for Pets’ ‘Santa Paws’ Christmas appeal - a huge 86% more than those in England. 

The charity’s annual fundraising appeal took place in over 400 Pets at Home stores across the UK, with customers encouraged to donate 50p to provide a Christmas dinner for pets spending the festive season in a rescue.  The top five stores in the UK were all Scottish, with Edinburgh’s two stores (Pentland and Livingston) taking the top spots, having raised almost £30,000 combined.

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow wasn’t far behind with its three stores (Glasgow, Coatbridge and Bishopbriggs) totalling more than £24,000.  Support Adoption for Pets set an ambitious target of providing 1,500,000 meals for abandoned animals, yet fundraising efforts have been so great that over 2 million meals will be provided.

The following rescue centres will be benefiting from the generosity of customers in Glasgow and Edinburgh:

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

Scottish SPCA Edinburgh

Lothians Animal Rescue

Boxer Welfare Scotland

Cat Concern 

Springer Rescue for Scotland

Howard Bridges, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home said: "On behalf of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home I would like to sincerely thank Support Adoption for Pets and Pets at Home for their fundraising efforts.

"The result is truly overwhelming and testament of the generosity of this community. The donation is greatly appreciated as we enter another year of caring for Edinburgh’s unwanted and abused pets, providing much-needed food, shelter and veterinary care.”