Otherwise, he warned, an “unwanted pet pandemic looms” in the aftermath of the coronavirus. Mr Houghton, who represents the George Street And Harbour ward in Aberdeen, made the plea for greater thought after seeing the Scottish SPCA’s report a “‘heartbreaking” 134% increase in people looking to give up unwanted animals between September 2020 and January 2021. He told The Press And Journal: “Pets have been a lifeline for many in lockdown, especially those living by themselves. “However, there is a real concern that once people begin to normalise their routine again, we’ll find a lot of pets being put up for adoption without homes for them to go to.