A CROSSGATES woman is hoping Fifers will sign a petition to have kennels and catteries given the same financial support as other businesses.

The owners of local kennels and catteries have been feeling the impact of the affect Covid-19 restrictions on travel and are backing support for a petition to be presented to the House of Commons.

But since last March, when the pandemic hit the UK, fewer people have been going away for breaks and the normal trade for the owners of establishments which care for pets has been decimated, resulting in many struggling to keep going.

The online petition needs 100,000 names to trigger a debate on the issue at Westminster, and Maureen Cuthbertson, of Bucklyvie Cattery, Crossgates, hopes that people in the West-Central Fife area will attach their names to it.

Maureen said: “It has been such a difficult time, with all the travel restrictions that have been needed to try and contain Coronavirus, and it has been a real struggle.

“The thing is that despite the impact, boarding kennels and catteries have not received the same support the travel and hospitality industries have got.

“We hope that the petition can receive the 100,000 signatures that it needs to be heard in Parliament, it could be a life saver for many local businesses.”

The petition can be found online under ‘Support Boarding Kennels And Catteries’ and it states: “We ask that Boarding Kennels and Catteries are recognised as directly and severely suffering from the impact of the Covid travel restrictions and be given access to support in the same way as the travel and hospitality industries.

“The British are a nation of pet lovers. When absent from home to travel for work, health reasons or to care for a relative, pet owners can rely on Boarding Kennels and Catteries to look after their pets.

“Due to Covid-related travel restrictions, Kennels and Catteries are facing huge losses, potential closure and even bankruptcy.

“Without help, these businesses will simply disappear, impacting the wider tourism industry and resulting in animals being abandoned to shelters and charities.”

By the weekend the petition had almost 22,000 names appended but more are needed to achieve a debate in Parliament.

Maureen added: “We hope local pet lovers will back the petition bid to earn a debate on the issue.”