RSPCA reports 65% increase in animals being abandoned

Animal rescue charities are being overwhelmed with the number of animals needing their care, stretching them to breaking point. This all comes at a time when public generosity is under pressure from the strains and stresses of the recession.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has reported a 65 per cent increase in the number of animals abandoned over the last five years. This equates to around 40,000 additional animals requiring care and, with the cost of looking after these animals rising, animal charities are finding themselves at crisis point.

The daily rate for a rescued animal in an RSPCA centre, including food, housing and staff care, is £15 for a dog and £9.40 for a cat. Both cats and dogs are now taking nearly ten per cent longer to rehabilitate and rehome than a year ago as people are becoming more reluctant to take on a pet. Meanwhile, the number of abandoned and abused horses has risen, with over 600 horses in the care of the RSPCA, the cost of looking after them comes at a cost of £3.7m for this year.

With many rehoming centres at full capacity, animal rescue charities are relying on private boarding homes to house abandoned and abused animals. However, spaces are limited and there is a very real danger that within the foreseeable future, animal charities may be forced to turn vulnerable animals away.

Gavin Grant, RSPCA chief executive, calls for emergency help from the nation’s animal lovers, saying: “The recession may be over but these are very dark times for its silent victims, the animals. They have never needed our help so desperately.

“This is a real crisis and despite the immense dedication of our staff and volunteers, we are struggling to cope. We really need our country’s animal lovers to step forward and open their hearts, homes and purses in these extremely difficult times.”