A leading animal charity in Northern Ireland is set to significantly widen its support for pet owners experiencing financial hardship after receiving a substantial funding boost.
Lifeline Scheme Secures Vital Funding
The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) has been awarded a £20,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. This money will be used to expand the charity's long-running Pet Parcel Scheme, which has been operating for over a decade.
Through this initiative, the USPCA supplies almost 8,000 parcels every year to food banks across the region. Each parcel is packed with essential items to help people care for their animals, including food, blankets, basic care products, and even a toy.
Keeping People and Pets Together
Heather Weir, Chief Executive of the USPCA, emphasised the profound bond between owners and their pets, especially during difficult times. "We are a nation of animal lovers and our pets offer emotional stability when life becomes challenging," she stated.
Ms Weir explained that pets provide routine, companionship, and a crucial sense of purpose, which is particularly important for individuals dealing with loneliness, mental health issues, or social isolation. "Many will be sitting alone on Christmas Day with their cat or dog, and the bond that they are able to share on what can be an emotional day can make all the difference," she added.
The funding will strengthen the long-term sustainability of the service, acting as a preventative measure to stop people from being forced to surrender their beloved companions due to short-term financial pressures.
Grassroots Impact in Local Communities
The parcels are distributed through a network of local food banks, where the need is acutely felt. Donna Whitten, who runs a food bank in Portadown, County Armagh, set up her service after seeing a television programme about people giving up pets because they could not afford to keep them.
"We help a wide range of people in great need," Ms Whitten said. She shared powerful stories of beneficiaries, including a woman on benefits who visits weekly to feed her pets and a man with mental health struggles who was close to surrendering his dog before discovering the support available.
"The partnership between the USPCA and grassroots food banks like ours plays a vital role in communities all over Northern Ireland, keeping pets and people together," she affirmed. "Quite simply, they are a lifeline."
National Lottery's Broader Mission Against Loneliness
The grant to the USPCA is part of a much wider programme of support from The National Lottery Community Fund. Over the past ten years, the fund has provided nearly £90 million to support 900 projects in Northern Ireland aimed at reducing loneliness and isolation.
Nationally, this forms part of a £1 billion investment into 30,000 projects across the UK. Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: "Loneliness and isolation continue to affect many people in our communities, and it’s a problem that is brought into sharp focus around Christmas time."
She expressed pride in supporting organisations that foster real connections, whether by bringing people together or, as in this case, ensuring individuals can maintain the comfort and company of their treasured pets during a crisis.
