Still rescuing and rehoming animals in London
THE RSPCA has today reassured animal lovers that it is continuing to rescue and rehome animals in London despite the coronavirus outbreak.
The animal charity which has a team of frontline officers, 17 animals centres including Southall Cattery and Friern Barnet Adoption Centre four wildlife centres and four animal hospitals including Putney Animal Hospital and Harmsworth Animal Hospital , across England and Wales, has put contingency plans in place to cope with the weeks and months ahead.
There are also some 160 RSPCA branches including a number in London : London East Branch London South East Branch, Purley Caterham & District Branch, Central, West and North East London
Branch, Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon & District Branch Bromley and District Branch, Middlesex North West and South Herfordshire , Croydon, Crystal Palace & District Branch, Balham and Tooting Branch, Wimbledon, Wandsworth and Sutton District Branch and RSPCA Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor, Kingston & District Branch which are registered charities in their own right. Branches are part of the RSPCA family running vital clinics, rehoming centres and charity shops. A majority of this incredible work is carried out by volunteers, so there may be changes to local services. Most are still operating as normal at the moment but this is fast-changing, so please check their websites, social media channels or call before you visit.
Chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “Thanks to our amazing, dedicated and professional team of staff and volunteers, the RSPCA is still rescuing and rehoming animals in these difficult times.
“We are having to change the way we work, but please be assured we are doing everything we can to make sure that we get help to the animals most in need.”
He added: “There is a great deal of anxiety, worry and concern at the moment. Being around animals can bring great pleasure, companionship and mental health benefits, so we hope people will draw comfort from spending time with their pets and watching wildlife to help them through the weeks and months ahead.”
The RSPCA has frontline officers
You would be forgiven for thinking the legend of the London bus that jumped the gap on Tower Bridge as it opened was made up.
But, believe it or not, it actually happened.
Bus driver Albert Gunter became an unlikely hero in December 1952 when he was behind the wheel of the number 78 from Shoreditch to Dulwich.
It was an ordinary day for Albert but that changed as the bus crossed the famous middleparting bridge.
The watchman who was supposed to ring a warning bell and close the gates before the bridge opened didn’t do so.
Albert’s bus was on the south of the bridge as the road in front of him started to rise. working around the clock to help animals.
Our officers are regularly handwashing before and after handling animals, avoiding entering premises and asking people to bring animals to the door where appropriate and keeping their vans clean. They are sanitising their hands whenever they leave their vehicles.
Each year the RSPCA answers more than a million calls from the public concerned about animals.
We would encourage those looking for advice to take a look on our website before calling as there is lots of information on there.
Those calling with emergencies please be patient, as despite contingency planning, we may have fewer people available to answer calls.
Our wildlife centre teams are still
Going at just 12mph and with nano-seconds to make a decision, he slammed his foot on the accelerator.
Remarkably, the bus cleared the 6ft drop to the north side which had not yet begun to open.
The conductor broke his leg and 12 of the 20 passengers suffered minor injuries, but the bus was intact.
Albert was rewarded with £10 (about £290 in today’s money) and given a day off for his bravery.
One grateful passenger is said to have asked the plucky driver to be the best man at his wedding.
You could say it was all in a day’s work for a London bus driver. working around the clock to help rehabilitate and release sick and injured wild animals.
Our centres are not open to the public for visits.
If you find a sick or injured wild animal please contact our emergency line on 0300 1234 999 for advice on what to do.
If you’ve found a baby animal which appears to be orphaned there’s also advice on our website.
Our centres are restricting public access, but anyone looking to rehome an animal can look at the RSPCA website for pets which need adopting and make an appointment to visit if they see one they like.
Extra hygiene measures are in place to protect staff and visitors, but we would ask anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 not to visit.