RSPCA warns animal abandonments are on the rise in Norfolk

The number of animals abandoned in Norfolk's risen by more than 6% 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 Norfolk

Here in Norfolk, to the end of October this year, the RSPCA's received 252 calls of animal abandonment, and anticipates it'll get over 300 (303) by the end of the year.

This is an increase of over 6% since 2020.

Earlier this year, the RSPCA in the county launched an appeal after two ten week old Cockapoo puppies were founded dumped in Suffolk.

"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. Abandonments have soared and many rescue centres are full to bursting, so we are facing an unprecedented winter crisis."

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