Around 25,000 dumped or endangered animals were rescued across the Midlands last year, according to shocking new figures released by the RSPCA.
They saw a 73 per cent rise in numbers of unwanted pets found in the region last year. Nationally it rescued nearly 150,000 wild, exotic, farm and domestic animals.
Fgures show an 80 per cent rise in numbers of horses and ponies rescued, while numbers of farm animals rose by 208 per cent.
Flooding last year was partly blamed for a dramatic increase in larger animals rescued but there have been a number of alarming cases in the region in the last 12 months, including:
* Six six-week-old bull terrier-cross puppies dumped in an a alleyway in a shopping bag in Messenger Road, Smethwick.
* An abandoned Staffordshire bull terrier rescued after being bound to railings in Oldbury, near the entrance to Sandwell Council’s staff car park.
* A live rabbit sealed inside a hutch and left out for binmen in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.
* An unwanted 5ft python dumped on Cannock Chase and discovered by wildlife rangers on patrol.
One owner told an inspector: ‘My dog hurts my legs when she wags her tail,’ , while another said: ‘My cat doesn’t match my new carpet.’
The charity said the upward trend could continue. Within the first four months of this year, it has rescued 2,621 animals, including a three-legged cat with no tail dumped outside a supermarket.
Tim Wass, chief officer of the RSPCA inspectorate, said: “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.”
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8 Comments
doesnt it make your heart sink? what sort of repulsive human being could wilfully abandon a defenceless animal who didnt ask to be adopted? truly sickening!
I dont think most people realise how bad it is.If someone decides to get rid of a pet they think there will be a rescue waiting with open arms, unfortunately all the rescues are full so people just kick their animals out on the street.
Microchipping should be compulsory if you want to own a pet, maybe then people would take some responsibility.
There has to be more laws passed to protect animals & the RSPCA should be able to go into a house on a tip off (like in USA) - not wait till the animal is dead or injured. Do not have a lot of faith in RSPCA I found an injured owl, they told me to “put it in a hedge and leave it” when I commented it would die they replied “thats nature!!” luckily Gentleshaw bird of prey helped and the Owl survived. there is also too much breeding of dogs/Cats etc - you only have to read the pets section in the E & S classified ads.
watching a program on the animal planet channel called animal cops heuston seems that over the pond they have more powers to deal with neglectful owners the rspca need more powers like that over here. People need to think long and hard before owning a pet for the long term
I would like to point out that a number of years ago I and my Wife rang the RSPCA on 3 occasions about a neighbours dog left out in -5 and then -7 conditions. This was over 2 days and no one came. I rang for the last time and asked plainly was an inspector coming out that night, or not ? The answer was no. I entered the garden and took the dog. I took it straight to the police station where they kindly took it to the kennels and fed it. We explained the RSPCA did not want to know and all about the owner being a drug addict/dealer. The police asked where the dog was found and we said we had taken it. The policeman said we had probably saved it’s life and said so you found it 5 miles away ? We agreed and so the owner did bot get the dog back. The RSPCA do normally do a good job, but also don’t act quickly enough. It is not down to lack of funding, but management. Don’t forget these officers and managers get paid, most of us would help a sick/injured animal for nothing !
Good-evening.
A sign of the times?May be!I wonder what would
happen if animals,for one day,where able to
decide about their owners!I,m afraid things
would turn out to be a disaster,a major disgrace for us humans!
FJ Bartling,Hilversum,Holland.
The RSPCA are stuck in a peculiar position. They must prove the animal is suffering and can only recommend to the owner that improvements be made to its care and upkeep.
Dogs left to bark in back yards no matter what the weather are still alive. The RSPCA can’t prove that they are suffering.
The law needs to change so that animals can be confiscated before they start to actively suffer.
Horrible.
My cat was dumped in the middle of a dual carriage way with his 2 brothers and his mom at 5 weeks old, the RSPCA were called but told the person who found them that she had to find them a home or they would just put them down. Luckily my liitle boy has a loving home but most animals arent that lucky!