Yesterday, the BBC highlighted the growing challenges faced by pet owners in accessing affordable veterinary care. At the Scottish SPCA, we’ve long been aware of these pressures and were one of the first to take proactive steps to support pet owners in need.
Recognising the growing need in our communities, we lead the way by launching Pet Aid back in early 2023, initially focused on providing essential pet food and supplies. Building on the success and impact of this initiative—and alongside the invaluable frontline work of our inspectors—we expanded the programme in 2024 by introducing Pet Aid Veterinary. This offered access to free veterinary treatment when urgent support has been required through our Community Advice Hubs, which has now expanded even further to include specialist behavioural advice.
We also recognised that improving animal welfare means supporting their owners too. With this in mind, key partnerships have been central to our approach. In August 2023, we partnered with Citizens Advice Scotland, and in October, we welcomed SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) and more recently Simon Community Scotland. These partnerships help us offer all round support within communities, providing care for both people and their animals.
Recently, our Head of Clinical Services, Tom Underwood, participated in a roundtable hosted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) alongside other charity vets. Discussing the CMA’s Remedies Paper, Tom shared his perspective on the importance of ensuring affordable access to veterinary care for pet owners while considering the potential unintended consequences of some remedies on animal welfare and charities. He said:
“It’s great that the Scottish SPCA has an opportunity to be part of this conversation. During that meeting, we discussed how potential remedies could improve access to affordable veterinary care for pet owners, as well as potential unintended consequences and their impact on animal welfare, including the work of charities like ours.”
We’re proud to have pioneered what we now call our Community First approach—long before it became more common in the sector—and we continue to expand and refine our services to ensure every pet in Scotland receives the care they deserve.
To learn more about our Community Advice Hubs, including Pet Aid, the work we’re doing alongside our partners and how you can help, please visit our Community Support webpage.
