Challenging times
As Covid-19 continues to affect us all, our members are still providing urgent, lifesaving care to pets here in the UK and working animals in some of the world’s poorest communities.
Spring and Summer 2020 were certainly unlike any we had all experienced before, and throughout the crisis animal welfare has continued to be an issue.
With the announcement of lockdown, rehoming activity had to temporarily stop. Cats, dogs, and horses were cared for by vital teams of staff, who have worked throughout the crisis, and foster carers who provided all the love and attention the animals needed. Once rehoming could start changes to systems were made to allow for government guidelines and social distancing, whilst still finding homeless animals loving new homes.
Throughout this unprecedented time our members continued to provide urgent, lifesaving care to pets here in the UK and working animals in some of the world’s poorest communities. The impact of Covid-19, combined with the extreme poverty of the countries where SPANA works, has been almost unimaginable. Those living on the poverty line, who have lost their livelihoods overnight, now simply cannot afford to feed – or even keep – their working animals. Many working animals have been abandoned. Without the emergency feed, treatment and
care the dedicated vets provide, the crisis caused by Covid-19 will take the lives of thousands of vulnerable working animals.
Covid-19 is impacting on everyone – including animals in need. Our members deal with cases of neglect, abuse and abandonment in animals every day and they are working tirelessly to ensure that animals live happier, healthier lives. And now, as the effects of COVID-19 continue to affect people’s jobs and finances we are expecting an influx of animals who can sadly no longer be cared for.