RSPCA deal with nearly 2,000 animal welfare emergencies in Dorset during lockdown
There have been over one million calls made to the animal welfare charity since the beginning of the pandemic
The RSPCA has answered almost one million calls since the start of lockdown one year ago, and officers across the South West have dealt with 13,506 incidents, including nearly 2,000 here in Dorset.
The Charity has adapted the way it works to comply with lockdown rules and social distancing, but it's continued to rescue rehabilitate and rehome animals during the pandemic.
Since 23rd March 2020, the charity has received 958,352 calls to the hotline; dealt with 253,714 urgent incidents; and took 23,228 animals into care at their national centres, hospitals and private boarding partners.
The charity's inspectors and animal rescue officers were designated key workers and continued to respond to emergencies and urgent calls, as well as rescuing animals in need.
Their animal hospitals continued to provide emergency vet care, the call centre continued to answer calls and staff at its 14 centres, four wildlife centre and branches continued to care for the animals in their care.
In Dorset a total of 1,824 incident were responded to and one incident saw an abandoned cockerel found in a layby in the county back in November.
Chief executive Chris Sherwood said:
"The last year has been incredibly difficult for individuals, for families, for businesses, for charities and for animals. But I'm incredibly proud of the work the RSPCA has managed to do during this challenging year.
"We've had to adapt how we work, change our procedures, review our practices, and all while we continue our vital everyday work rescuing, rehabilitating, rehoming and releasing animals, and investigating animal cruelty."