The RSPCA has released new statistics that show abandonment cases have been “spiralling” amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Up to the end of October, there have been 17,838 reports of abandoned animals to the RSPCA. Without a chance in the trend, this is projected to reach 21,417 reports at the end of 2023. This is a sharp, 32.9 percent increase compared to the 16,118 reports during the whole of 2020, as well as the 17,179 reports in 2021 and 19,645 in 2022.
October 2023 was an especially busy month, with 1,800 reported incidents in a 48.1 percent increase compared to October 2020.
Dermot Murphy, RSPCA inspectorate commissioner, said: “The combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis has created a perfect storm – and means we expect more animals than ever will need our help this year.”
“Abandonment calls to our emergency line are now at a three-year high, as we respond to an increasing number of animals being given up and dumped. Behind these shocking statistics are thousands of vulnerable animals. Each one is a valuable life in urgent need of our help.
“We’re desperately concerned about the coming winter months – abandonments have soared and many rescue centres are full to bursting, so we are facing an unprecedented winter crisis.
“Our rescue teams are set to be busier than ever this Christmas – so we need animal lovers to and donate to help us be there for animals in desperate need as abandonment soars.”