The Scottish SPCA has been selected as BEAR Scotland’s National Charity Partner for 2022 after securing a third of the votes in an employee poll.

As well as taking part in fundraising events across the organisation, BEAR will have collection boxes for donations of crucial items within its depots and offices for distribution at Scottish SPCA centres across the country, including food, bedding and toys.

As a charity that receives no government funding and relies solely on donations, the Scottish SPCA has expressed gratitude for BEAR Scotland’s support.

Scottish SPCA head of fundraising Natasha MacKinnon said, “We are delighted to have been chosen as BEAR Scotland’s charity partner of the year.

“It’s wonderful to be partnering with a business where the team are clearly animal-lovers and share our values.

“The fundraising events BEAR Scotland are planning will allow us to continue carrying out our life-saving work rescuing and rehabilitating domestic, farm and wild animals across Scotland. The donation collection points will also be invaluable in helping us care for animals at our nine animal rescue and rehoming centres and National Wildlife Rescue Centre.

“With animals and people facing extraordinary pressures, the support of businesses like BEAR Scotland has never been so important.”

Over the past two years the Society SPCA has seen incredibly high demand placed on their services with many of their rescue centres close to or at capacity at times. Since the start of 2020 Scottish SPCA animal rescue officers and inspectors have responded to over 150,000 reports of animals in need, the equivalent of almost 220 animals helped every single day.

BEAR Scotland is committed to delivering a positive footprint to the communities in which it operates and has a comprehensive community benefits programme. In 2021 they delivered almost £38,000 to 28 charity and community initiatives throughout Scotland.

Joanna Buggy, BEAR Scotland’s engagement manager said, “The annual national charity partnership is a key element within our employee fundraising programme.

“We polled our staff offering options of five different well-known national causes. While it was quite a tight result, the Scottish SPCA came out on top – proving what we already suspected, that most of our colleagues are definitely animal lovers!”