A CENTRAL Fife cattery owner has challenged the government to do more after being left with no consistent funding throughout the pandemic.

When the pandemic hit, many businesses across Central Fife and beyond were forced to close their doors and furlough their employees as they were given non-essential status, however boarding businesses like kennels and catteries were left to fend for themselves as they were left open but with no customers in sight.

In what is largely a tourism driven sector, kennels and catteries alike have suffered throughout the pandemic due to long-term travel restrictions that prevented their customers from going abroad and subsequently stopped them from checking their pets in with places such as the Bucklyvie Cattery, which Maureen Cuthbertson owns in Crossgates.

Speaking to the Times about her struggles over the past year, Maureen said: “At the moment, I’m waiting on a response from the Scottish Government. I’ve lodged an official complaint at the end of March, to take it to stage two because I wasn’t happy. The boarding industry has basically just been pushed to the side.”

After countless attempts to receive not only funding, but answers, Maureen praised local government for their part in their success in attaining a one-off discretionary fund.

She said: “Local government wants to help us; I can’t say that they’ve pushed me to the side because they’ve been very constructive in what they’ve done.

“I quite believe that we only got paid the discretionary grant because of the council’s people, I believe they pushed for kennels and catteries to be included.”

When asked what she thought about wider government however, Maureen said she felt that “it’s the Scottish Government that aren’t taking on board what’s happening here”.

She continued: “If I don’t get a response I’m going to have to go to the Scottish Public Servicemen’s ombudsman and see if there’s a case to be answered and I believe there is.”

Maureen believes that the effects of this lockdown will linger for her and her business long after the restrictions have been fully lifted.

While business at this time is normally booming, with every space booked, Maureen currently has only one cat staying with her.

“I don’t think it will pick up to the normal level that we require. I think we are going to suffer, even though other businesses are picking up”.

With tension in the sector rising, Maureen is still fighting for answers and believes the solution could lie in the funds given to the Scottish Government by Westminster.

According to the Scottish Governments budget statement for 2021-22 there has been a further £300 million confirmed for supporting businesses, with a special mention to both the taxi and wedding sectors.

Maureen added: “I would like them to give us proper funding. We need help, for the retrospective and we need help now because things are not picking up for us.”