Rescuers fear bleak winter for animals

RESCUE officers believe there will be an increase in animal neglect and abandoned pets this winter.

A survey just before Christmas, showed that 87 per cent of RSPCA inspectors and officers are concerned and are appealing to people to help its festive appeal.

In Leicestershire there were 202 reports of animals being neglected last winter - including 60 reports in December. The charity believes this number will rise.

Rescuers, who are out 365 days of the year helping animals in need, fear the rise in pet ownership during the pandemic and pets being bought on impulse will lead to more neglect cases.

Being able to provide appropriate care for pets topped the reasons the officers worry animals will be abandoned or neglected this Christmas - with 95 per cent listing the cost of care, including vet and grooming costs as their number one reason for neglect.

Dermot Murphy, chief inspectorate officer, said: “The RSPCA teams are out every day in all weathers saving neglected and abandoned animals.

“We will be out there every day over the festive season for the animals who need us most, bringing them to safety, but we can’t do it alone.

“We rely entirely on donations to keep our teams on the road.

With a cost of £245 a day to keep a frontline rescuer on the road, we’re calling on animal lovers to join the Christmas Rescue to help keep our teams doing whatever it takes to rescue every animal we can.”

The survey also revealed the RSPCA rescuers believed loss of interest in a pet is a contributing factor to abandonments and neglect at this time of year, with 82 per cent saying they feel it is the main reason for abandonments, and 74 per cent believing it is a major cause of neglect.

Last year, the charity received one call every minute last December. One report of an abandoned animal every hour and took 70 rescue animals into RSPCA care every day.

There were 3,916 reports of animal neglect in December, with 12,344 throughout the winter across England and Wales.

The charity has launched its winter appeal Join the Christmas Rescue to help be there for animals in need this festive season.

To help the rescuers be there for the animals in need, visit: