FOI Request - Requests for Help with Livestock

Request 101002490610

Official Government advice states that anyone with horses, livestock or other animals (except for cats and dogs) should call their local authority if they are too unwell to care for their animals due to Covid-19 and if they don’t have anyone to help them. The official advice is contained at this webpage, which I last accessed on 13th April 2020: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-people-with-animals. Please can you advise:

1.     Has the local authority received any calls of the above nature?
a.     If this information is held, please advise which species help has been requested for.
2.     What is the local authority’s official response to such calls for help?
3.  What arrangements has the local authority made, or planned to make, for those animals that cannot be cared for by owners in the above circumstances?
a.     Please describe the nature of any temporary arrangements that may be being made. Please break this down by species and/or animal type if appropriate.
b.     Please describe the nature of any permanent arrangements that may be being made. Please break this down by species and/or animal type if appropriate.
4.     How much financial resource does the local authority have access to to help people with animals in the above circumstances?
a.     Is this being provided by the local authority itself or by central Government?

In the event that it is not possible to provide the information requested due cost limits per s12 of the Act, please advise how I can further refine my request to ensure it fits within the scope of the Act, per your s16 obligations.

Response 14-09-2020

In accordance with section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can confirm that we do not hold any records of this type of call being received.