RSPCA launches plea for donations during lockdown

Charity in appeal for cash amid outbreak

‘We know that this is a difficult time for everyone but we must still be here for animals who are suffering...’ - Dermot Murphy, RSPCA

The RSPCA says it is having to attend more than 20 incidents a day in Kent amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the Government lockdown was announced on Monday, March 23, the charity has dealt with a total of 614 incidents across the county.

The organisation and its officers – who are designated key workers amid the pandemic – have received 66,000 calls across the UK since the beginning of lockdown. Included among the incidents across Kent in the last month is a gull that had to be rescued from a chimney breast in Whitstable.

In Rochester recently, officers appealed for information after rabbits were found dead on a grass verge.

It is understood that on top of emergency calls, officers are collecting and caring for pets of people hospitalised with Covid19 when there is nobody else to care for them. However, many of the national animal centres are inundated with guests – the RSPCA Leybourne animal centre near Maidstone currently has 110 animals in their care.

The information was released as part of the charity’s appeal for donations while it faces a funding shortfall amid the coronavirus crisis.

Dermot Murphy, chief inspectorate officer, said: “Despite the lockdown, there are still thousands of animals which need our help.

“As designated key workers, our frontline rescuers are still out and about rescuing animals in urgent need of care. “Our resources are under huge strain and vital funding is needed to keep our rescue teams out on the road.

“We know that this is a difficult time for everyone but we must still be here for animals who are suffering and we are appealing for animal lovers to give whatever they can to help us.”

■ To donate to the RSPCA’S appeal, visit: bit.ly/2knyu8f

RSPCA inspectors have been busy during the lockdown