This year, Dog Aid Scotland celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Since 1956, thousands of dogs have found safety, companionship and hope for a future thanks to the dedication of our team, volunteers, supporters and partners. As Scotland's oldest dog welfare charity, dedicated solely to dogs, we are incredibly proud of that legacy.

Anniversaries for charities like ours are not only an opportunity to reflect on the past, they also offer a chance to look to the future.

For us, the challenges facing dogs and their owners today are very different from those faced by our founders 70 years ago.

Rising costs, financial pressures on households and support services struggling to keep up with demand mean many dog owners are finding it harder to care for much loved pets through no fault of their own.

Rescue organisations across the country are facing rising demand for their services, which many are struggling to meet. Growing operating costs and an increasing competitive fundraising landscape make it harder for small charities to secure funding, stand out and grow the support they vitally need.

At Dog Aid Scotland, we see these challenges every day. In 2025, our small but dedicated team supported more than 800 dogs and their owners across Scotland. Through our Veterinary Aid Scheme, we helped 182 dogs access essential treatment, including 167 dogs whose owners faced unexpected veterinary bills.

Our Neutering Scheme supported 225 dogs, helping prevent unwanted litters and promoting responsible dog ownership. We also found new homes for 19 dogs through our unique home-to-home rehoming service and supported many more dogs to stay in loving homes through training and advice.

These figures only tell part of the story. Behind each one is a dog that received vital treatment, a family that was able to keep a beloved pet, or a successful rehoming that gave a dog a second chance.

Looking ahead

As we look ahead, we're exploring how a small charity can extend its reach and increase its impact without losing what makes it special. For Dog Aid Scotland, that means finding new ways to connect with dog owners, supporters and communities so that more dogs can receive the care, support and the loving homes they deserve.

This year has brought significant change for the charity, marked by new leadership, fresh ideas and the first steps in shaping our new strategy and direction, alongside preparations for our first ever winter appeal.

Standing still is not an option if we want to truly support dogs and their owners across Scotland, and that will be at the heart of our new strategy which will launch in 2027.

Since joining Dog Aid Scotland this year, one thing that has struck me is how many charities are grappling with a similar question: how do we preserve what makes our organisations special while adapting for the future, meet needs and expectations and deliver the impact we’ve set out to achieve.

As we build our plans, we are keen to learn from and collaborate with others across the sector who have experienced periods of growth, renewal, strategic change or brand development.

Collaboration and shared learning have always been among the sector's greatest strengths, and we believe there is much we can learn from organisations that have navigated similar challenges as well as many opportunities to work together to support across different areas of need.

As we prepare to launch our new strategy, our focus is on reaching more people, supporting more families and ensuring even more dogs can live safe, healthy and loved lives. We are immensely proud of our first 70 years and using that legacy to find ways to support even more dogs and owners in the decades ahead.

Jamie Simpson is chief executive of Dog Aid Scotland

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