There's been a huge increase in animal neglect and abandonment in England and Wales and the RSPCA's rescue centres are "absolutely full", according to the charity. New figures show there were 38,977 incidents of neglect reported to the RSPCA's emergency cruelty line between January and September 2023.
But for the same period in 2024, there were 48,814 - a 25% increase. The number of animals dumped in winter has also doubled. "Our centres up and down the country are absolutely full, and we're also taking animals into private boarding," said RSPCA spokesperson Suzanne Norbury.
"So when our teams are out there, they rescue animals and we haven't got space. "We're spending money on private boarding facilities at the moment on top of running centres like this one. It's costing us £26,000 each and every week.". Chris Packham and Caroline Lucas resign from RSPCA.
Parents warned buying puppies from unlicensed sellers at Christmas could fund organised crime gangs. Warning to pet owners after cats die in suspected poisonings. It means the charity is trying to absorb extra costs of £1,352,000 a year for emergency boarding.
At their rescue centre at Frankley near Birmingham, Damon is one of many cats looking for a new home. He was a stray found on a building site with a broken jaw and has had to have it wired back together at the animal hospital here. 'The first thing they cut back on is their animals'.
