More animals coming into rescue care in Dorset as rehoming slows
Total number of animals rehomed here slipped by 8% from 2020 to 2021
Last updated 4th Oct 2022
The RSPCA has launched its annual Adoptober campaign encouraging prospective pet owners to consider giving a rescued animal a new home.
This comes after new figures raised concerns that more animals are being relinquished to charities at a time when rehoming has slowed.
The animal welfare charity - which operates 14 national rehoming centres across England and Wales, while supporting a network of branches with an additional 45 animal shelters - has released new figures that show rehoming has dropped 8% while animal intake is up 8.4% year-on-year.
In Dorset, the total number of animals rehomed slipped 8% from 390 in 2020 to 359 in 2021.
The number of dogs rehomed fell 33% from 72 in 2020 to 48 in 2021 while rabbits fell 46% from 59 to 32.
Cats bucked the trend, however, with 30% more rehomed in 2021 (210 compared to 162) and 21% more ‘other pets’ - like guinea pigs, rodents, farm animals and birds - were rehomed (117 compared to 97) in Dorset.
The RSPCA’s annual Adoptober rehoming drive has kicked off today and will run throughout October, promoting adoption and highlighting the many animals the charity has waiting to find their perfect match.
The charity fears that the cost of living crisis means more animals are coming into its care while less people are considering taking on a new pet.
Releasing new figures today (4th October, World Animal Day), the RSPCA has highlighted a potential animal rescue crisis as more animals come into care, stay in rescue centres for longer, with less people coming forward to adopt.
In 2021, the RSPCA’s network of centres and branches rehomed 26,945 animals, an 8% drop compared to the previous year when 29,358 animals were rehomed, and a huge 31% drop from 2019 (39,178) despite the Covid pandemic affecting the way in which charities across the nation could rehome.
The number of dogs rehomed by the charity also fell 6% from 4,877 in 2020 to 4,567 in 2021 while cats dropped 12% from 17,868 in 2020 to 15,579 in 2021.
Across England and Wales, the average stay for an animal (the number of days they spend in RSPCA care from being ready to rehome to leaving for their new home) also increased for dogs by 9.4% - from 85 days in 2020 to 93 days in 2021 - and for rabbits - from 104 in 2020 to 117 in 2021, an increase of 12.5%. Cats length of stay remained the same at 67 days.
Pet welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said:
“It’s really concerning to see that animals are staying in our care for longer and that less are being rehomed year-on-year. Unfortunately, we believe we’re really starting to see the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
“Many of the animals - particularly dogs - who are coming into our care have behavioural challenges which could be linked to how they were bred as well as lockdown limiting the amount of training, socialising and outside world experience they had.
“We’re also beginning to see more animals coming into our care because their owners simply couldn’t afford to care for them any more; or, in the most extreme cases, having been neglected or abandoned due to the rising cost of pet care.
“Sadly, this is coming at the same time that potential pet owners are deciding now is not the best time to take on an animal due to the soaring cost of living, and feeling they cannot financially commit to adding a pet to their family at such a worrying time.
“For those who are able to bring a pet into their home, we are urging them to really consider adopting rather than buying.
"Many of our animals will already be neutered, vaccinated and treated for fleas and worms - making it much more cost-effective - and we will work them to make sure they find their perfect match.”
In 2021, the RSPCA saw more dogs, rabbits and other pets (including small furries, pet birds, farm animals and exotics) coming into its care than in 2020. Intake for cats and horses fell by 1.7% and 18.1%, respectively.
Last year, the charity rescued:
● 7,412 dogs - 11.9% more than the 6,624 in 2020;
● 7.1% more rabbits (2,731 compared to 2,549);
● 6% more other pets (5,900 compared to 5,566).
The RSPCA’s Animal Kindness Index - released earlier this year - highlighted the impact the cost of living crisis is having on pet owners. The survey found that 68% of pet owners were concerned about the increasing cost of pet care while 19% were worried about being able to afford to feed their pets.
Figures released by the charity in August revealed that its cruelty line was receiving more than 100 reports a day of animals being abandoned throughout 2021; and the concern is that the cost of living crisis could lead to this riding even higher.
Long-stays looking for love
Three-year-old husky-cross, Big Patch arrived at RSPCA Ashley Heath Animal Centre in January. He was signed over when his owner died and their family were unable to keep him; sadly, he’d been kept locked in a porch without much food or exercise.
Behaviour and welfare advisor Hannah Hawkins, who has been helping to take care of him, said:
“Big Patch was underweight and covered in urine stains, and needed a lot of work to prepare him for rehoming.
"We were thrilled when we found him a home in the summer but his adopters sadly returned him after just a few hours as they found him to be too strong and boisterous for them.
“He is, however, a really lovely dog, and is very clever. He knows lots of skills and responds well to his name and to training. He can be strong so needs owners who can manage this. He’s very playful and loves to sniff and explore so will enjoy long walks and lots of playtime."
He can be aloof when he meets new people but soon makes friends. He loves training and engages well, so would benefit from further training.
He’s looking for an active home and we’d ideally like to find someone patient who has large breed experience who can help him get used to a new routine.
He needs an adult-only home where he’ll be the only pet, and he’ll initially need someone who is around for most of the day to help him settle in.
Could you offer a rescue pet a loving new home? Please visit Find A Pet to see all of the animals currently in their care who are looking for their paw-fect match.
If you can’t offer a rescue pet a new home perhaps you could help in a different way?
● Become a fosterer for a sick pet recovering from surgery or a youngster who needs to learn how to behave in a home.
● Help to continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming by donating online or calling their donation line on 0300 123 8181.
● Sponsor a cat pod or a dog kennel and help take care of the animals during their stay with them.
● Support the work of your local centre or branch by becoming a volunteer or donating to them directly.