A volunteer with a Fife animal charity believes the coronavirus pandemic could have a huge impact on its services as people struggle to look after pets.
Fife Cat Shelter shared the thoughts of one of its volunteers on social media as it appealed for people to donate pet food as well as human food to foodbanks in their area.
Pet food aisles have been stripped almost bare across the region as people stock up fearing a period of isolation, and the concerns don’t just stop there.
“Sadly I foresee one of the knock on effects of the coronavirus epidemic is the rise in pets being handed into rescue organisations – or abandoned unfortunately – because people will not be able to afford to look after them anymore,” the volunteer said.
“I also foresee a massive rise in unwanted kittens because many vets are now only carrying out emergency operations and this does not include neutering.
“Just one example of how this epidemic effects more than just our own health and wellbeing.”
The charity urged people to think of neighbours who may be finding it hard to take care of their beloved pets as well as themselves, and urged them to consider buying them some pet food or offer to take their dog for a walk.
