The RSPCA reveals that animal abandonment reports increased by 20% in Lincolnshire in two years as part of its Join The Christmas Rescue campaign
Shocking new figures have revealed that the number of animals abandoned in England and Wales during the winter period has increased by 51% in three years.
The RSPCA has released the new statistics as part of its Join The Christmas Rescue campaign to highlight the battle frontline rescuers face ahead of another bleak winter for thousands of animals.
In Lincolnshire, latest figures show the number of abandonment reports to the RSPCA for 2023 was 433 up from 381 in 2021 — a 20% increase.
It was a similar story in Nottinghamshire, with animal abandonment reports to the RSPCA for 2023 was 395, up from 352 in 2021 when the cost of living crisis began — an increase of 12%.
One such animal abandoned in our area was an overweight cat dumped in a field on a warm day off Newark Road in Collingham.
The cat — named Miss Moneypenny by rescuers — was inside a pale blue and cream cat basket and had no food or water, despite it being 26°c that day.
RSPCA inspector Pam Bird, who rescued the cat, said: “The cat was friendly but seemed very stressed and was breathing heavily. She is a flat-faced brachycephalic cat too and these breeds suffer more from breathing difficulties particularly in hot weather.”
Pam took the cat to a nearby vet, where she was found to weigh 8kg -- twice the average weight for a cat of 4kg. She was put on a special diet to return her to a healthy weight and was able to recover from her ordeal. She has now been rehomed.
The RSPCA received 3,071 animal abandonment reports from November to January 2021. Last winter (November 2023 to January 2024) this rose to 4,630 pets — a staggering 51% increase.
In total, 20,999 abandonment reports were made to the charity’s emergency line in 2023 and, according to latest 2024 figures up until the end of October, 19,067 have been reported this year.
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.
And now, during the winter months, the RSPCA expects the crisis to worsen as more people struggle with the increase in expenditure around Christmas time, coupled with an increase in energy bills.
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.
“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.
“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.
“So please Join The Christmas Rescue and together we will bring joy and safety to animals. For thousands of terrified and injured animals, we’ll turn the worst suffering into the best Christmas yet – because it will be the one where their lives change forever, and the start of many happier Christmases to come.”
To help the RSPCA rescue more animals visit rspca.org.uk/winterappeal
