RSPCA: Powys animal abandonment cases increase by quarter

Figures from RSPCA Cymru show that there were 49 cases of animal abandonment in the county in 2023.

This is an increase of 25.6 per cent from 39 cases in 2021.

The charity said that the cost of living crisis, along with the increase in pet ownership during the Covid-19 lockdown, has led to a surge in animals being dumped by their owners.

RSPCA Cymru said that they expect the situation to worsen during the winter months and over Christmas as people struggle to pay for presents, food shopping and heating.

OTHER NEWS:

• 'We're not a biker gang' insists charity hoping to take on historic Welshpool site
• Powys County Council confirms road closures remain after Storm Bert
• Questions in parliament after death of Powys man in London crash

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 per cent 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.

"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."

Mr Briggs said that 'as long as animals are in desperate need', the charity 'will not stop' trying to help them.

What are your thoughts?

You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.

He urged people to 'join the Christmas Rescue' and help the RSPCA bring joy and safety to animals.

He also encouraged anyone struggling to take care of their pets to seek support from reputable animal welfare charities.

The RSPCA has launched a dedicated cost-of-living hub to help pet owners find the support they need.

The Wales Pet Food Bank, formed by RSPCA branches in Wales, secures dog and cat food donations from suppliers and distributes these to food banks and organisations across the country.

The number of animals abandoned in Wales as a whole has increased by 29 per cent since the cost of living crisis began in 2021, with the total number of cases in 2023 standing at 1,547.

(Image: NQ)

In June, three newborn puppies were found dead in a shoebox in Newport, prompting an RSPCA appeal for information.

The three black pups of an unknown breed were found by a member of the public in a black shoebox and were wrapped in a blue jumper.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Danielle Wilson said: “These three pups had their umbilical cords still attached, so they couldn’t have been that old at all.

“We don’t know whether they died during birth and someone just didn’t know what to do with the bodies, or they died afterwards.”

Figures released by RSPCA Cymru show the number of animals abandoned in Wales increased by 29% in three years (Image: RSPCA)

In another case, thirteen guinea pigs were abandoned down a lane in Cardiff.

They were kindly taken to a place of safety before the RSPCA were contacted.

The RSPCA urges people to take any small, sick, or injured animals they find directly to the vets if it is safe to do so.

The quicker an animal gets help, the better their chances of survival.

There is helpful advice for those who find abandoned animals on the RSPCA's website.

Mr Briggs said: "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.”