RSPCA deal with more than 1,600 lockdown incidents in West Sussex
There have been more than 25,000 call-outs across the South East since the start of lockdown
Animal rescue officers have dealt with 1,656 incidents in West Sussex since the start of lockdown last year.
Those are just some of the 25,757 incidents RSPCA officers have dealt with across the South East.
Rescues included helping a hedgehog who got stuck inside a discarded bird feeder in Horsham last April
The Southwater-based charity has answered almost one million calls since the start of lockdown last March.
To comply with lockdown rules and social distancing, the RSPCA has had to adapt the way it works.
But, it has continued to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals during the pandemic.
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."
Since 23 March, 2020, the RSPCA has been answering emergency calls, rescuing animals in urgent need, investigating reports of animal cruelty and neglect, taking in abandoned animals, and rehoming rehabilitated animals to new families.
Across England and Wales, the charity received 958,352 calls to the hotline; dealt with 253,714 urgent incidents; and took 23,228 animals into care at its national centres, hospitals and private boarding partners.
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.
The charity’s hospitals continued to provide emergency vet care, the call centre continued to answer calls and staff at its 14 animal centres, four wildlife centres and branches continued to care for animals.
But, the charity has been virtually rehoming and delivering pets to their new homes, with thousands of animals going off to new homes and foster families since 23 March.
During lockdown, the RSPCA has celebrated what it has described as "a number of victories", including the Agriculture Bill and statutory footing of the Trade and Agriculture Commission, as well as the Government’s commitments to implement a ban on the private keeping of primates and compulsory microchipping of cats.
The UK and Welsh governments also proposed ending live animal exports for slaughter, the use of wild animals in circuses was banned in Wales, and a ban on third-party sales of puppies and kittens came into force in England in April 2020.
Fundraising methods have also had to change.
With the London Marathon cancelled and the RSPCA’s annual One Fun Day shelved, the charity’s events team decided to host a virtual event with animal-themed online sessions and the worlds’ first ever live Zoom pet show.
The team is now planning another home pet show on 19 June.
Chris added:
"Over the past 12 months we’ve demonstrated our commitment to animals and shown that, despite the hardships we face, we will always be there for the animals who need us.
"But the pandemic has hit us hard; we’ve had to change how we work, suspend door-to-door fundraising and cancel fundraising events.
"The charity sector has been hit hard by the pandemic so we’re asking the public to get behind us, to donate, and to help us continue our vital work; together we can make this a better world for animals."
Donations can be made to the RSPCA online.