Figures revealed by the RSCPA show that 51 animals were abandoned here on the Isle of Wight in 2023.
The charity has released the new startling statistics to highlight the battle frontline rescuers face ahead of what is expected to be another bleak winter for thousands of animals as part of its Join The Christmas Rescue campaign.
On the Isle of Wight, latest figures show the number of abandonment reports to the RSPCA for 2023 was 51 up from 40 in 2021 when the cost of living crisis began.
In total 20,999 abandonment reports were made to the charity’s emergency line in 2023 and according to latest 2024 figures (available up until the end of October) 19,067 have been reported this year – which, if the trend continues, will be almost 23,000 reports.
The RSPCA believes the surge in pet ownership during the Covid-19 lockdown and the increasing financial hardships due to soaring living costs have led to the increase in people dumping their pets.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs said:
“We are seeing a shocking rise in the number of calls reporting pet abandonment to our emergency line during winter with an eye-watering 51% rise in three years. Sadly we expect the trend will continue as more pet owners face financial hardship at this time of year more than any other.
“Our rescuers are regularly coming across dogs in poor health, collapsed and left in isolated spots to suffer a lingering death; sick kittens discarded in cardboard boxes who are lucky to be found alive; or pet rabbits dumped in the wild with little chance of survival against predators.
Article continues below this advertisement “With the cost of living crisis we are also seeing people having to move out of properties due to financial pressures, and we are increasingly coming across pets who have been left locked in homes alone after their owners have moved out – like Jack and Poppy pictured (right) who were left to starve on a filthy mattress but were rescued by the RSPCA and have since been rehomed.
“Heartbreakingly, we are seeing many pets left in their own filth – with no food or water, no-one to care for them and no idea if anyone will come to help them.
“Thanks to the public supporting us we are able to rescue many animals, rehabilitate them and find them new homes – but to continue this life-saving work we need your help.”
If you find a small pet who has been abandoned, take them directly to a local vet or rescue centre. These teams can call in the expertise of our teams if there’s evidence that the animal has been neglected or abused. There’s more information on how to safely handle and transport an animal on our website. If you find a dog you believe has been abandoned, please contact your local authority’s stray dog service; you can find out more here.
Very sad news, people should be vetted before being
allowed to purchase a pet.
Animals sadly do not have a choice who their parents
are.
Think before purchasing a pet.
Can anyone remember who once said that we are a nation of animal lovers, bull toilet, (I kept that one clean) ha ha. All of these scum should be publicly birched.