RSPCA warns animal abandonments are on the rise in Kent

The number of animals abandoned in Kent has risen by nearly 37% since 2020.

That's according to the RSPCA, which says animal abandonment incidents across the country have soared to a three year high.

Across England and Wales

Across England and Wales, the RSPCA says, up to the end of October this year, it's received over seventeen and a half thousand (17,838) reports of abandoned animals across England and Wales.

Comparatively, it received 16,118 reports during the whole of 2020 - showing the charity's on course to see a 32.9% rise in abandonment calls this year.

In Kent

Here in Kent, to the end of October this year, the RSPCA's had 616 calls of animal abandonment. This is an increase of nearly 36.6% since 2020.

"A perfect storm"

Dermot Murphy, who heads the RSPCA frontline rescue teams, 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 in Suffolk. Abandonments have soared and many rescue centres are full to bursting, so we are facing an unprecedented winter crisis."

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