RSPCA braced for increase in abandoned pets over winter season

A cat found abandoned in a cat carrier in Rochdale earlier this year

More than 4,600 pets were abandoned across England and Wales last winter, and the RSPCA is concerned that a surge in pet ownership could result in more unwanted animals this year.

Last winter, the charity received 4,650 reports of abandoned animals including 252 in Greater Manchester.

Already this November, there have been 985 reports of dumped and unwanted animals to the RSPCA’s cruelty line, including 47 in Greater Manchester. The charity says reports of increased pet ownership, coupled with a deepening recession could see more pets left out in the cold this year.

Dermot Murphy, head of the RSPCA’s animal rescue teams, said: “During the lockdown there have been reports of a rise in  people buying or adopting new pets, often for the very first time. Whilst it’s great that so many people have become pet owners and have found their pet to be a real source of comfort during these challenging times, we are concerned that some people may have bought a pet on impulse without considering how their lifestyle might change once the pandemic ends. On top of that, we are facing real economic uncertainties, and, as in previous recessions, people may simply find themselves unable to afford their pet.

“The last thing we want to see is animals dumped and left out in the cold so we’d urge anyone who is struggling to care for their pets to please reach out to friends, family and charities for support instead.”

Since the start of lockdown, from 23 March until 29 November, the RSPCA’s cruelty line has received 11,052 reports about abandoned animals.

The most common concern reported to the RSPCA’s cruelty line last winter was neglect, with more than 76 reports a day relating to pain and disease (6,916) and 57 reports a day for unsuitable environments (5,134).

A poll by the RSPCA, conducted by YouGov, revealed that just over one in ten (11%) pet owners had taken on a pet during lockdown and, of those, nearly one in ten (9%) said that their pet had been more expensive than they had expected. Just over one in 20 (6%) were worried about being able to afford them in the future.

A third of GB adults who own a pet (33%) said they were worried that pets bought during lockdown will be abandoned if people returned to work and 31% said they were concerned that pets will be dumped this Christmas if people were struggling.

Dermot added: “We would always urge anyone considering getting a pet to thoroughly do their research to make sure they can give them the time, money and care they need for the rest of their lives. As the impact of the pandemic puts a strain on people’s finances and as many people start to return to work or some kind of normality, the fear is that we will see a surge in abandoned and neglected animals coming into our care.”