For the second year running – and for a variety of different reasons – the world’s largest animal welfare charity rescued nearly 150 thousand wild, exotic, farm and domestic animals from dangerous and distressing situations.
The rescue figures include a 23 per cent increase in the number of animals abandoned by their owners – from 5,959 in 2006 to 7,347 in 2007. Almost half of these were cats.
Typical examples of how animals were abandoned* in 2007 include:
· a litter of kittens dumped in a dustbin bag for refuse collectors (London)
· a rabbit abandoned in a box in a crushing machine at a recycling centre (Northallerton)
· a puppy dumped in a cardboard Cadbury’s box on a street in Orpington (Kent)
· five hamsters abandoned in a plastic tub – two of which were dead – at the side of a road (Southampton)
And the worrying trend could be continuing. Just four months into 2008 the Society has already rescued 2,621 abandoned animals, including a three-legged cat with no tail dumped outside a Co-op store this month. (See case studies at the end of the release).
Equally concerning are some of the bizarre reasons given to the RSPCA by owners no longer wanting their pets, for example: “My dog hurts my legs when she wags her tail” and “my cat doesn’t match my new carpet.”
| Type of Animal | 2006 | 2007 | % Change |
| Cat | 33,290 | 29,987 | 11.0 |
| Dog | 9,532 | 7,903 | 20.6 |
This news comes at the start of RSPCA Week (28 April – 4 May) – the Society’s largest annual fundraising and awareness raising push.
Commenting on the figures Tim Wass, chief officer of the RSPCA inspectorate, said: “From birds injured by oil spills to stranded cattle, and cats in road traffic accidents to dogs simply abandoned by their owners, the RSPCA was on hand last year to help all types of animals whatever the emergency.
“Last summer we deployed the biggest number of RSPCA staff for a generation to the rescue of farm animals, horses and other much-loved pets from the severe floods that swept the country.
“Sadly we also noticed a rise in the number of animals callously abandoned. It is an offence to abandon any animal and there is never any excuse for doing so. If people have pets they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is always available from the RSPCA.
“During RSPCA Week we want people to spare a thought for the many thousands of animals needing the RSPCA’s help each year and in particular for anyone thinking about getting a pet to consider the responsibility they are taking on before doing so.”
*The term ‘abandoned’ is used for an animal that has been left completely alone to fend for itself ie.it has not been handed over to an RSPCA centre or any other organisation or individual to care for it.
**The term ‘rescue’ refers to all animals that the RSPCA rescues for a wide range of different reasons, including animals that are sick and injured, in road traffic accidents, trapped in dangerous places and abandoned.
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Dear Sirs,
I wish to make you aware of an incident of mine which I did not report to the police but to me is unresolved and unusual. I live in a semi rural area and kept rabbits in my back yard, secured behind two doors. When I returned home from work I found that my German Lop rabbit had her nose hanging off. It required emergency treatment. There was no injury to my other rabbit or any signs of disturbance. She recovered but ever since was prone to chest infections, not having any nostrils. I give you the date of it, just in case it ever happens to anyone else. If it was cruelty and a crime then it was indeed henious. 30.8.06
Kind regards.
Audrey Nelson