Abandoned: Victims of the cost of caring crisis
We visit RSPCA centre’s pets in need of homes
IN the parrot house, a radio is playing loudly. A sign says it must be kept on at all times. It provides company for Alfie, an African grey, and neighbour Merlin, a 16-year-old orange-winged beauty from the Amazon. Their favourite station is Radio 2.
Alfie has spent 10 months at the RSPCA shelter after she was rescued from a house full of other parrots amid concern over their welfare.
Merlin was taken to a vet to be put down after his owner fell ill and could no longer care for him.
They are among the 600 dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, birds and reptiles cared for each year at the centre.
Branch manager Jenny Eden said pet abandonment is at a record high, explaining: “The combined effects of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis have created a perfect storm.”
Nationally, the RSPCA is bracing for “an unprecedented winter crisis”.
As well as rescuing, rehoming and rehabilitating the animals, this branch in Patcham, East Sussex, runs a subsidised neutering scheme, and has the only dedicated RSPCA reptile rescue house in the country.
Nibbles and Dinky, three-year-old lop-eared rabbit sisters, have been at the shelter for more than a year.
Among the 35 cats currently at the shelter are Poppy, aged one or two, and four-month-old kitten Ace, who were rescued from a house that had more than 80 other cats.
Tuxedo cat Monty, 10, is looking for a home after his owner died, while stray Travolta arrived at the shelter needing treatment after he had been bitten by another cat.
The two-year-old had been on the streets for some time. Jenny said: “He was very nervous and very distrusting of people. Bit by bit he has slowly come round. He is definitely ready for a new home.”
Seven-year-old shih tzu/Jack Russell crossbreeds Tommy and Polly were found covered in excrement in a filthy shed. But after a month at the shelter, the brother and sister have been found a home where they will move this month.
Frank, a 10-year-old British bulldog, arrived last month via an RSPCA inspector after a change in circumstances for his owner.
He hasn’t walked much recently and Jenny said: “He needs to build up his exercise levels slowly.”
These stories are just a snapshot of the thousands of animals lives hanging in the balance.
The charity was called out to more than 18,000 cases of animal abandonment in England and Wales in 2023. The figure rises each year in recent times. The RSPCA said: “That’s why we need people to help with our winter appeal – and support our dedicated frontline teams to continue to help more animals in need.”