Animal Abandonments on the Rise (Again)
Published on April 27, 2009 by The RSPCA · 9 CommentsRecession is to blame for animal abandonments says RSPCA.
The number of animals abandoned* across England and Wales has soared by 57 per cent, and the problem could be getting even worse, latest RSPCA figures reveal.
The animal welfare charity dealt with 11,586 dumped animals last year, a shocking average of more than 30 animals abandoned every day of the year. And the trend seems set to continue as figures from the first two months of 2009 show a further 1,432 animals abandoned.
The number of calls from members of the public wanting to give up an animal is also up by 52 per cent**.
The RSPCA is facing pressure on two fronts as the Society tries to cope with the increase in workload caused in part by the recession, but also facing its own financial pressures. The fall in property prices is expected to reduce income from legacies and the recession is also likely to reduce donations to the charity, so the RSPCA is going to have consider cutting jobs.
As RSPCA Week begins, the charity is asking the public to continue digging deep in their pockets and help raise funds for the thousands of animals the charity rehabilitates and rehomes – many of which are now coming into RSPCA care as the latest victims of the credit crunch.
“Now more than ever we need the public’s support,” says Tim Wass, chief officer of the RSPCA inspectorate. “It is a challenging time for the RSPCA, but more importantly it is a crisis out there for the animals, and it’s only because of the public’s help that we’re able to do what we can.”
The number of animals abandoned during 2007 was 7,347. That rose to 11,586 last year, a 57 per cent increase. Typical examples:
* A badly neglected dog dumped in a bin liner
* two cats dumped in a drawstring bag by the roadside
* a litter of puppies found dead in a shoebox
* a sick pony dumped on a common
The number of abandoned cats rose by 50 per cent, while dogs increased by nearly a third.
RSPCA Chief Officer of the Inspectorate Tim Wass added: “It is an offence to abandon any animal and there is never any excuse for doing so. If people have pets they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is always available from the RSPCA.
“We know things are going to get tougher. The RSPCA already works collaboratively with countless other animal charities and groups – this may well increase even further as we all work together to combat the current downturn.”
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*The term ‘abandoned’ is used for an animal that has been left completely alone to fend for itself i.e. it has not been handed over to an RSPCA centre or any other organisation or individual to care for it.
** Calls to enquiries increased in a six-month period from 2577 in 2007 to 3931 in 2008.
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‘A badly neglected dog dumped in a bin liner’
If it has no owner or keeper with it, this is also a stray dog, just how many stray dogs do animal charities deal with?
The law is simple in respect of what the finder of a stray dog has to do…report it to the relevant council, it is the law plain and simple!
If animal charities take in ‘abandoned’ dogs are they complying with the law of the land?
*The term ‘abandoned’ is used for an animal that has been left completely alone to fend for itself i.e. it has not been handed over to an RSPCA centre or any other organisation or individual to care for it.
It may seem to be being pedantic but, as Gnasher has commented an abandoned dog is a stray dog. I have had to gently point out to my colleagues in the RSPCA this fact. Once I have explained they understand where I am coming from.
There seems to be a failure (deliberate? who knows) at RSPCA HQ to acknowledge this fact and to include it in training and in the education and PR.
I’m not an RSPCA Anti, I just think the HQ could do better by it’s front line troops and the public.
DavetheDog
Well said, the RSPCA suits and politico’s let the troops on the ground down with their confusing stance.
They make the MOD look organised.
‘The RSPCA is facing pressure on two fronts as the Society tries to cope with the increase in workload caused in part by the recession, but also facing its own financial pressures. The fall in property prices is expected to reduce income from legacies and the recession is also likely to reduce donations to the charity, so the RSPCA is going to have consider cutting jobs.’
Get rid of the suits and bean counters and redeploy resources to frontline officers and get back to grassroots animal protection also stop dabbling in things that cost you money that could be used for animal welfare purposes!
The comments of Mr Wass would be more believable if the ‘animal crisis’ TV advert that he did warning us of a crisis in Januaryand February had not been filmed in late summer. The shirt sleeve order gave it away RSPCA Press Office!
I’ll never understand all the anti feelings, comments and constant criticism of the RSPCA from fellow animal lovers. The do a bloody good job. If anyone thinks they can do better I’d like to see them try.
@Lisa, Read the comment again, they are not Anti RSPCA, they are Anti waste and political dogma at the top. I work with and use my legal powers to assist the local RSPCA Field Officers. I have a good relationship with them and respect them. However having been in this position for nearly 20 years and having had a partner for 10 years who was an RSPCA Field Officer I know the sort of rubbish they have to put up with from their top floor.
@Dave the Dog, I’ve not said yourself and/or other posters were anti RSPCA. I said I can’t understand the constant (and often petty) criticism continually aimed at the RSPCA from fellow dog lovers.
Whatever organisation or company people work for they’ll always be disgruntled staff amongst them. Also working with the RSPCA on a professional level, I struggle to understand why people (who should be in the know) feel the need to constantly put them down. I see firsthand the wonderful work they do and this includes work carried out at head office.
Should an article come up asking why the RSPCA aren’t making more of an effort to fight BSL, I would accept and expect negative comments. However this is an article about the increase of abandonments and sign overs they are sadly having to face. Instead of offering supportive comments people seem to feel the need to put them down yet again. From where I’m sitting it seems like any excuse to have a good ole rant at the RS. Can’t do right for doing wrong.
Lisa, my apologies, it was the way it read to me. However I now understand what you meant.
It would seem we both feel the same way.
One of the reasons why income from donations and legacies will have gone down in 2009 will be because the RSPCA killed 10 German Shepherd dogs by means of captive bolt guns in June of that year. The RSPCA is currently being investigated by South Wales Police over this matter. The RSPCA has admitted to killing at least 65 dogs by captive bolt guns in 2009. This is an unacceptable method for euthanising companion animals. The RSPCA has published statements including a joint one with the WSPA in an attempt to justify what was done to those 10 GSDs. That statement demonstrated a conflict of interest because the retiring Director General of the WSPA was previously the Director General of the RSPCA, and the current Chief Executive of the RSPCA is on the Board of the WSPA. Public outrage is still rife and more than 8,000 people have signed petitions calling for a ban on such an inhumane method. Until the RSPCA admits it was wrong and bans captive bolt guns for use on companion animals then their income will continue to spiral downwards. Sadly, that is the only way to make the 11 executive members at the top of the RSPCA tree (who earn approx £1.3million between them per annum) sit up and take notice.
Please note that the 174 local branches receive no financial assistance from Headquartes despite incoming resources during 2008 in excess of £119million and free reserves of £70million. Thos local branches are run mostly by volunteers who have to raise all their own funding.
The RSPCA has published statements which attempt to excuse what they did but