Polly Pullar teams up with SSPCA inspector Louise Seddon on a round of sometimes harrowing visits
SCOTLAND’S animal welfare charity, the Scottish Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals has come a long way since its inception in 1839 with the remit of safeguarding badly treated draught horses in the urban environment.
Since then it has burgeoned into our most important animal welfare organisation with a vital role to play in a society that struggles with the most basic needs of animals great and small, from wildlife to farm livestock and domestic pets.
It’s a dreich autumnal day – sodden leaves tumbling down, the sky pregnant with clouds. I am on the road with Scottish SPCA Inspector Louise Seddon, whose husband Colin is the manager of the society’s state-of-the-art wildlife rescue centre at Fishcross, Clackmannanshire.
“It’s fair to say I have always been very keen on animals and since childhood, have been aware of the need to care properly for them at all times. I have been doing this job now for 10 years and my aim is to ensure the best possible outcome as swiftly and as efficiently as possible. Sadly, that’s not always what happens.”
Before moving to Scotland, Louise was a solicitor dealing with prosecutions for the RSPCA in England so she is no stranger to the horrors of animal welfare issues. “After many years in that role I really felt I wanted to do something more directly to make a difference.”
Her van is laden with equipment; travel boxes for cats, dogs, rabbits other small mammals or reptiles, thick gloves for dealing with biters, plastic gloves, dog graspers, boots and wet weather clothing, amid folders laden with information relating to cases and the law, and reams of contact numbers.
The advent of smartphones with sat nav enables inspectors to dispense with maps and make and receive hands-free calls as they journey round the country.
As usual, Louise’s list for the day is long.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2017-Ausgabe von The Scots Magazine.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2017-Ausgabe von The Scots Magazine.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
The Bliss Of A Bothy
After a strenuous walk, a mountain shelter can offer all you need
The Long Way Round
When you can only just see the stepping stones under a river in spate, it's time to re-think the route, as two Highland adventurers found out
The New Oyster Cult
A community is helping to restore the once rich biodiversity of Loch Craignish, one species at a time
A Poet's Sanctuary
Hidden on a hilltop, writer Dominic Cooper is inspired by the wild, stormy winters of the Ardnamurchan peninsula
A Rural Housing Crisis
Across Scotland, locals are being priced out and crowded out - but communities are now working hard to address the issue
A Historic Centre
Glasgow's Mercat Cross may not be as old as it appears but it's still seen many changes, along with an ebb and flow in prosperity
A Bird With A Brain
Jim's encounters with the raven in several northern countries have only increased his respect for its intellect and ingenuity
The Warrior King
On the 750th anniversary of his birth, Robert The Bruce's legacy as cultural keystone and historical enigma continues to fascinate
All Going Swimmingly
From Tutti Frutti to Shetland, Monarch Of The Glen to Granite Harbour, Dawn Steele's heart will always be in Scotland - and the sea
Following The Coos
The latest charity art trail aims to a-moos-e and delight visitors to Perth and Kinross this summer