Animal welfare officers from the Scottish SPCA responded to almost 3,000 callouts in Ayrshire last year and more than 200 pets found their forever homes in the region.
Ayrshire Live Stephen Bark Ayrshire Live senior reporter 14:38, 10 Apr 2025
Scottish SPCA investigators responded to almost 3,000 callouts in Ayrshire last year as the charity helped more than 200 pets find their forever homes in the region.
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In total, 2,994 reports of animals in need were responded to by the charity across Ayrshire in 2024 while 231 pets were rehomed in the county.
East Ayrshire saw the most reports of animals in need at 1,068 and 84 pets were rehomed in the area.
In North Ayrshire, the Scottish SPCA responded to 935 callouts and 48 pets found their forever homes in the area.
South Ayrshire saw 991 reports of animals in need and 53 pets were rehomed in the area.
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The charity revealed the statistics as it announced an expansion of its lifeline Pet Aid service.
Pet Aid aims to keep pets and people together by helping pet owners through the cost of living crisis which has left some faced with the choice of feeding themselves or feeding their pets.
New Pet Aid Community Hubs will be coming to Ayrshire as part of the programme to support owners with animal behaviour.
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.
Scottish SPCA’s head of rehoming, fostering and 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.”
Last year, calls to the charity’s helpline by members of the public about giving up their pets increased by 24 per cent.
Pet Aid dished out 66,895 meals for pets across Scotland in 2024 – an average of 183 meals every single day, keeping animals from going hungry and helping people keep their much-loved pets.
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.
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Pet Aid expanded in 2024 with the launch of Pet Aid Veterinary, a community-based vet service offering crucial health checks and medical care.
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