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The homeowners of an ex-Balmore canine say they’re “shocked and really disenchanted” on the determination to shut the Scottish SPCA animal rescue and rehoming centre for Caithness and Sutherland.
Allan Tait and his household acquired Dex, a Parson Russell Terrier, six years in the past after a couple of visits to the Balmore shelter close to Dounreay. They discovered the adoption course of “very easy” however Mr Tait believes it is going to be a special matter if the closest SSPCA centre is in Inverness.
Campaigners are demanding a rethink by the nationwide animal welfare charity. A Save Balmore group has attracted greater than 1500 members on Facebook, whereas a petition to save the centre has gathered over 3700 signatures.
The SSCPA introduced final month that Balmore would shut by the top of October however the last animals have already been eliminated. The centre will probably be handed again to its homeowners on October 31.
Mr Tait and his spouse Lorraine dwell in Wick and have two sons.
“As a household we had been shocked and really disenchanted to listen to the information concerning the closure of Balmore,” Mr Tait stated.
“It is sort of six years to the day that after a lot of speaking about including a canine to the household we determined to take a run as much as Balmore ‘only for a glance’.
“Needless to say, as soon as we had seen 10-month-old Dex we knew he was the canine for us, regardless of listening to how he had been deported from Orkney resulting from dangerous behaviour.
“We had him home after a couple of weeks and there’s not a day we aren’t glad that we took that run over to Balmore – even when his terrier traits have given me the odd gray hair over the years.
“The course of was very easy. We went up a go to the subsequent two weekends till he was prepared for the everlasting transfer.
“SSPCA employees got here for a home go to to ensure the backyard and so forth can be appropriate for him.
“I can not think about the adopting expertise will probably be anyplace close to as easy if the closest centre is in Inverness, and that may be a fear each for people seeking to tackle an animal and naturally the animals themselves.”
Mr Tait added: “In my job as a senior improvement officer at Caithness Voluntary Group we’re very conscious of the influence on folks’s psychological well being of the pandemic and the cost-of-living disaster.
“There is a lot of proof that pets could be a large assist in enhancing your psychological well being – we are able to vouch for that since Dex got here into our lives. The SSPCA and centres like Balmore play a big position locally, so I actually hope there’s a change of thoughts.”
A spokesperson for the SSPCA stated: “Many studies show pets do have a positive effect on mental health, and anyone who has been fortunate enough to own a pet will know the joy and companionship they can bring to your life.
“One of the new roles we have created in our expanded service offering is to deliver community engagement, which will involve working with mental health organisations, community groups and people with mental health conditions who own pets to ensure they have access to the support and services they need.
“Two colleagues who worked at the Balmore centre have chosen to take up new roles and will continue to work with the local community. As rehoming and fostering coordinators for the area, they will ensure that the adoption process is as seamless as possible for anyone who is considering pet adoption with the Scottish SPCA and the animal they are taking home.
“All of these roles will help to deliver expanded services which are tailored to the needs of the local community.”
