Shocking rise in number of animals being abandoned

THE RSPCA has revealed a shocking increase in animal abandonment in Devon, including a "disgraceful" case in Plymouth which saw a cat sealed up in a bag and thrown into a creek.

- CARL EVE

The incident is just one in a multitude of cases tracked by the animal charity, who have highlighted a rising number of animals abandoned in the winter months.

The RSPCA has found that in Devon alone there has been a 25% rise since the cost of living crisis began while the national figure of abandonments across England and Wales has risen by 51%.

The charity says thousands of animals face another bleak winter, as it launches its 'Join The Christmas Rescue' campaign.

In Devon latest figures show the number of abandonment reports to the RSPCA for 2023 was 389 up from 311 in 2021 when the cost of living crisis began.

Nationally the RSPCA received 3,071 animal abandonment reports during the winter period: November to January 2021. Last winter - November 2023 to January 2024 - this rose to 4,630 pets who were reported to have been left to fend for themselves.

In total 20,999 abandonment reports were made to the charity's emergency line in 2023 and 2024 figures which currently run up to the end of October are already at 19,067 reports. If the trend continues there will be almost 23,000 reports this year.

The RSPCA has noted the combination of the surge in pet ownership during Covid-19 followed by an increasing financial hardships due to soaring living costs, which has led some people to simply dump pets.