A dire warning has been issued by the RSPCA after cases of animal neglect soared during the first nine months of the year.
The charity fears the problem is going to get worse as more pet owners face financial hardship at Christmas. It said between January and September 2024 its emergency cruelty line recorded 48,814 incidents of neglect, up from 38,977 for the same period in 2023 - a worrying 25% year-on-year increase.
During this period the emergency line has been open 3,276 hours, meaning it has taken an average of 15 reported incidents of neglect every single hour - or approximately one every 4 minutes. Animals have come to the RSPCA in heartbreaking conditions, with some so emaciated they are just skin and bones.
Areas that have seen the most incidents of neglect include the London area (Outer London 2,010 and Inner London 1,240), West Yorkshire (2,207), the West Midlands (2,148), Greater Manchester (2,135) and Kent (1,471). The RSPCA, which this year celebrates its 200th anniversary, believes the worrying figures are due to an increase in pet ownership during Covid 19 and the current financial hardships faced by many.
RSPCA Superintendent Jo Hirst said: “The large 25% increase in the number of pet neglect calls we are taking is a major concern during our busy winter period when many people are facing more financial difficulties, and we fear this upsetting trend will continue. One call every four minutes is a frightening statistic. Coupled with this we have also seen a startling increase in abandonment cases up 30% in just three years. Sadly we expect the crisis to worsen as more people tend to struggle with increased costs around Christmas time with presents to buy and extra food shopping - along with energy bills.”
One of the many animals rescued from neglect by the charity before having her life transformed is Staffie cross Mabel who was taken to a veterinary surgery in Surrey just a few weeks before Christmas emaciated and starving. She was so weak and dehydrated she was unable to stand unaided and her ribs and spine were protruding from her body. Her owner said she had been refusing to eat for a few days but when offered food by the vet she devoured it.
The vet could also see no medical reasons for her not to be eating and concerned she had been neglected for at least a month, they reported the matter to the RSPCA. RSPCA inspector Leanna Hone, who investigated her case, said: “She was completely emaciated and malnourished, unable to stand unaided, and incredibly weak. She had such a sad look on her face and these big, beautiful brown eyes which stared into your soul - my heart broke for her and what she’d been through.”
Mabel spent ten days in hospital after the incident in 2021 before time in a foster home to help her recovery and was then moved to the RSPCA’s Millbrook Animal Centre in Surrey, where she found her forever home. Now aged six, she is loving life with her new owners in Camberley and is looking forward to a Christmas enjoying long walks and new toys. Her previous owners were prosecuted by the RSPCA.
An underweight cat who was close to death was rescued along with her feline friend by the RSPCA and are now loving life together in a new home in York. She was rushed to a vet along with several other cats - including her pal Sindy - who were all found to be in a similar condition and were also suffering from eye and dental issues.
Cleo was the thinnest of all the rescued felines and weighed only 1.4kgs (3.08 pounds) but within 17 days of being in RSPCA she doubled to a healthy 2.8kgs after she was fed an appropriate diet. Sindy was 1.69kgs and this increased to 2.34kgs and she also had treatment for sore eyes. The vet said all cats had been suffering for between two to three months.
nspector Joanne Hartley, who rescued both Cleo and Sindy, said: “I clearly remember seeing how thin and weak Cleo was when we arrived at the property and I was really concerned for her health and that of a number of other cats she was living with, including Sindy. We rushed them all for veterinary treatment and I always remember when they were first offered food they ravenously ate it very quickly. They were then placed on a healthy diet to help them gain weight - which they did very quickly.”
Cleo and Sindy were rehabilitated in the care of the RSPCA’s York, Harrogate and District Branch and lived there for two years until the conclusion of court proceedings. They were then rehomed by Alice McMullan (24) and her partner Henry Fern, from York, in December last year and are now loving life.
Jo added: “To help more neglected animals like Mabel, Cleo and Sindy we must work together to make it a happy Christmas for every kind. We’re calling on everyone who believes that no animal should be left to suffer this Christmas to donate to our appeal today.”
To help the RSPCA rescue more animals visit rspca.org.uk/winterappeal