21 animals a day rescued by RSPCA
AROUND 21 animals were being rescued in Wales every day last year, a charity has revealed.
New figures show that RSPCA Cymru rescued a total of 7,642 animals across Wales in 2016.
RSPCA officers rescued animals in some of the most diverse and unpredictable of circumstances, with some of the rescues which hit the headlines including a kitten trapped on a wall at Pembroke Castle, a bearded dragon saved from a Monmouthshire doorstep and a sheep rescued from barbed wire on Christmas Day.
RSPCA Week – which begins today – showcases the animal welfare work carried out across the organisation. The awareness-raising week aims to shine the spotlight on the charity and highlight key animal welfare issues across Wales. It also celebrates the whole organisation, and coincides with the charity’s 193rd birthday.
While more animals were collected and rescued in Wales last year than during 2015, new figures also show the RSPCA’s success in using non-statutory welfare and improvement notices to prevent animal suffering.
RSPCA Cymru officers issued 7,119 welfare and improvement notices to members of the public in 2016 – an increase of 22.95% compared to the year before.
The charity say the use of improvement notices shows the charity’s “commitment to educating and working with animal owners”, with the report also detailing how teacher training carried out by the RSPCA in Wales last year has the potential to reach 75,500 children.
RSPCA facilities include two national animal centres at Bryn-y-Maen in Colwyn Bay and Newport, a veterinary clinic at Merthyr Tydfil, and a pet adoption centre inside Newport’s Pets at Home.
The key findings from the Annual Summary – launched for RSPCA Week – show that, last year RSPCA Cymru collected and rescued 7,642 animals, issued 7,119 welfare and improvement notices, received 10,540 complaints of cruelty, neutered more than 9,000 animals and delivered teacher training with the potential to reach 75,500 children.
Claire Lawson, RSPCA assistant director for external relations, said: “With 7,642 animals rescued, 7,119 welfare and improvement notices issued, more than 9,000 pets neutered and over 75,000 children reached in the classroom, 2016 was another incredibly busy year for RSPCA Cymru.
“As we mark RSPCA Week once again, it is clear we have much to celebrate across Wales in rescuing, re-homing and rehabilitating animals.
“I’m immensely proud of everything the charity achieved in Wales to better the lives of animals.
“Our small team of frontline officers rescued nearly 21 animals each and every day during 2016; whilst a huge surge in the use of welfare and improvement notices outlines our successful commitment to educating and working with animal owners.
“Through classrooms, at campaign events, and on the frontline, we worked tirelessly to raise key animal welfare messages; and help protect our fellow creatures, whether they be companion, wild or farm animals.”