Top rescues of 2021 in the Midlands revealed by RSPCA

The RSPCA has revealed 281,390 incidents of animal abuse were reported to the charity in 2021 via its emergency hotline. 46,075 those came from the West and East Midlands. As the year draws to a close, the charity's revealed its top rescues across the regions - and don't worry, they all have a happy ending!

1. An elderly woman had a lucky escape after a swan crash-landed through a double-glazed window. At her home in Barton in Fabis, Nottinghamshire, on 11th January, she went to investigate the smashing sound and found the bloodied bird sat dazed and confused on her bathroom floor.

Inspector Keith Ellis went to collect the bird. He said: “I think the swan was looking and flying to the nearby River Trent and must have misjudged the direction. It was also quite windy at the time which may have blown her off course." She was taken to a vet and needed surgery and stitches before being transferred to the charity’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, in Cheshire, for rehabilitation.

2. Construction workers found a badger taking a snooze underneath one of their pieces of machinery in Dudley on the 8th March. Animal rescue officer Cara Gibbon said: “Workers arrived at the site after a relaxing weekend to find the badger curled up sleeping underneath a power float machine. He’d climbed through a gap at the top of the machine and fallen into it before curling up and enjoying a little nap. He was covered by tarpaulin so it was probably nice and warm and cosy in there!” She checked him over and could see he wasn’t injured so workmen helped lift the heavy piece of equipment so he could scurry off.

3. Ella the hamster had to be rescued in Tamworth, Staffordshire, after getting stuck down a sink pipe for two days! The RSPCA and firefighters were called out twice to a family home on the 11th March after the hamster disappeared down a gap underneath the sink. RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal pushed a waste pipe down the gap and they left it there hoping she’d clamber out - which she did, before heading back to her open cage!

“We couldn’t believe it - after all the commotion she had caused with the RSPCA and fire service trying to rescue her and then she makes her own way out and sits in the cage as though nothing had happened. Lily was delighted to have her back - she cried tears of joy and Ella’s hamster friend Teddy was also happy, he was rubbing noses with her.”

4. A squirrel needed a helping hand after ending up in a hole lot of trouble. Inspector Elizabeth Boyd was called to a garden in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, on the 11th April. She said: “The little squirrel had pushed his way into a hole in the ground, probably in search of food, but then got stuck underneath a wooden post. The post is supporting an outdoor structure but they were happy for me to saw the post to create some extra space so he could wriggle free and he darted off.”

5. A hedgehog became wedged between the bars of a metal gate in Nottingham on the 20th September. Rescuer Teresa Potter said: “The poor hog had managed to get stuck between the bars of the metal gate and there was no way he was getting out on his own. The member of the public had tried to free him and called us for help. He was quite a large boy, and so I had to carefully and slowly wiggle him out. I checked him over and although he didn’t have any injuries he was breathing fast so I took him to a nearby vet as a precaution. Fortunately he was given the all clear - so I was able to release him back to the wild - where he could make his way back home.”

6. A missing skunk who’d been on the run for a week was rescued and reunited with his owner after giving staff at a DIY store in Nottinghamshire a bit of a shock.

Rescuer Dan Bradshaw was called to B&Q Worksop on the 19th October after staff opening up found him eating bird seed outside. They managed to corner and confine him before calling the RSPCA for help and Dan was able to trace his owner.

7. A swan which got stuck on a disused railway bridge was spotted by passersby who saw him hanging upside down underneath. Rescuer Rebecca Frost was called to the stricken swan in Northampton on the 23rd October. She said: “He was stuck between the metal beams underneath the bridge and was hanging upside down around 8ft up. I believe he had crash-landed onto the disused railway line overhead and then slipped through a gap, getting wedged between the beams holding the bridge up over the footpath and canal below.” Network Rail and Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service helped to free the bird. Rebecca went onto the track overhead and wriggled him free. She took him for rehabilitation as he was underweight and weak.

8. A spooked dog got stuck behind a water tank at her home after being frightened by a loud noise in Nottingham on the 28th October. Rescuer David McAdam went to help nine-year-old Suzie after she got wedged tight in the airing cupboard. He said: “Poor Suzie heard a loud noise at a building site nearby and it terrified her and she bolted into the airing cupboard. She then got her rear left leg stuck under a pipe tight onto her hip. I had a good look but it was impossible for me to get her free as removing her could have potentially ended up hurting her.” A plumber drained the tank and cut the pipe so her rescuers could carefully pull her free.

9. Staff at Matalan in Smethwick spotted a ferret scampering around the shop. Inspector Dave Hollinshead, who was called to the Windmill Shopping Centre, said: “She’s really friendly so the shop staff managed to catch her, pop her in a box and gave her some food and water. They kept her in a secure room at the shop overnight and I went to collect her on Halloween.” Thought to be an escaped pet and nicknamed Chanel, she was taken in by RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre while officers tried to find her owners.

From the 1st January to the 30th November, the RSPCA received;

• 1,972 calls in Shropshire
• 5,162 calls in Staffordshire
• 2,189 calls in Warwickshire
• 13,752 calls in the West Midlands
• 5,125 calls in Nottinghamshire
• 4,811 calls in Leicestershire
• 4,723 calls in Derbyshire