Edinburgh Dog and Cat home have received the largest cryptocurrency donation in Scottish history, worth £87,000.
The home has been gifted 26 Ethereum by Pawthereum, a community-run charity cryptocurrency project focused on supporting animal welfare organisations and being a digital advocate for animals in need.
The donation will help fund the home's food bank, Paws Pantry, for the whole of 2022.
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After struggling with the effects of the pandemic, Edinburgh Dog and Cat home turned to accepting cryptocurrency as an act of desperation. Events and community fundraising was at an all-time low during Covid, meaning the home had little in the way of money.
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is a charity which works to rescue, reunite and rehome stray, lost and abandoned dogs and cats throughout the East of Scotland.
The home also helps to support vulnerable pet owners in the community through its food bank, which was greeted with the huge donation. It also costs around £2 million a year to run the home, meaning a donation of this amount was incredibly appreciated amongst staff.
Nicola Gunn, Director of Development and External Affairs at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: "Our team’s day-to-day work to ensure vulnerable animals get the care they need is absolutely relentless, and just to know that this has been recognised by Pawthereum is incredibly overwhelming.
"There really aren’t enough words to thank them for this donation, which will ensure another year of Scottish pets being warm, fed and most importantly, remaining in loving homes."
Pawthereum has also committed to donating a further $2,000 per month to the rescue to ensure the ongoing growth of the service, as it continues to expand across East and Central Scotland.
Matt C-Roy, Charity Coordinator at Pawthereum, said: "Pawthereum was born out of the idea that cryptocurrencies can be a tremendous force for good in the world. We couldn’t be happier to do our first major donation with a partner as thoughtful and caring as Edinburgh Home.
"Their community outreach programs help pets stay with their owners during tough times. We’re proud to support that mission and to partner with Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home long term to save more animals."
In 2020, the Home cared for 610 dogs and 247 cats.
