23 November 2023 , 11:23
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Pets are facing a "bleak winter" as animal abandonments are at a three year high, the RSPCA has warned.
The alert comes after there were 1,800 incidents of animals being dumped last month across England and Wales - which is an increase of 48.1 per cent. The UK's leading animal charity stressed that the huge surge in pet ownership in the pandemic and the cost of living crisis are big factors towards the mass animal dumpings.
Dermot Murphy, RSPCA inspectorate commissioner, said: “The combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis has created a perfect storm - and means we expect more animals than ever will need our help this year.
Dermot Murphy issued an urgent appeal to animal lovers (RSPCA)"Abandonment calls to our emergency line are now at a three-year high, as we respond to an increasing number of animals being given up and dumped. Behind these shocking statistics are thousands of vulnerable animals. Each one is a valuable life in urgent need of our help. We’re desperately concerned about the coming winter months - abandonments have soared and many rescue centres are full to bursting, so we are facing an unprecedented winter crisis."
The charity added: "Unwanted pets face a bleak winter."
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Mum and daughter, Sheila and Stella, were found starving and underweight by rescuers. They are just two of many cats who have been dumped by their owners. The RSPCA in East Anglia located the furry felines in filthy conditions near to Christmas. RSPCA inspector Amy Pellegrini said: “After the call came in I rushed to a flat to find four cats in desperate need of help. The scratches at the door and the loud noises the cats were making told me they were starving.
“It was clear no one had been visiting them to feed them. I pushed some pouches of cat food through the letterbox and they pounced on them in desperation. Thankfully, I was able to gain access and get the cats to safety, and with time, our prosecution team made sure their former owner was brought to justice. The rescue was just the beginning for Sheila and Stella. Once I’d removed them from the flat and given them a good meal, I took them to our RSPCA East Norfolk Branch. The search began to find them a new home and they soon met their perfect match.”
The pair have since been adopted together. Two other cats, Tom and Barbra, were also found loving homes after their rescue. Dermot continued: “For nearly 200 years, the RSPCA has been working tirelessly to bring animals to safety and give them the expert treatment and compassion they deserve. We’ll continue to do so for as long as we’re needed but we can’t do that without the support of fellow animal lovers. Together, we could save more lives.
“The support of the public helps neglected and abandoned animals in so many ways - from buying soft, warm bedding and nourishing food for an animal who’s desperately cold and hungry, to funding vital vet care for an animal who is suffering and in pain.” The animal charity has issued a desperate plea to animal lovers to Join the Christmas Rescue by donating to support rescue teams as they look after animals during the colder months.