RSCPA deals with almost 6,500 incidents in the East during lockdown
The charity's been looking back on the last year ahead of the anniversary of lockdown tomorrow
The RSPCA has revealed it dealt with almost 6,500 incidents in the East during the pandemic, answering nearly a million calls nationally in that time.
The charity says it dealt with 1,973 incidents in Cambridgeshire, 2,763 in Norfolk, and 1,755 in Suffolk.
Among their achievements in our region in the last year were:
- Rescuing a grass snake that was trapped in a sewage pipe in Suffolk in June 2020
- Admitting more than a dozen common seal pups, during June and July 2020, having been rescued from across Norfolk and Suffolk
- Rescuing and fostering a tiny kitten who was found stuck on a glue trap in Norfolk in August 2020
- Rescuing two pigeons who became trapped in netting outside flats in Cambridgeshire in February 2021
The charity says it had to adapt the way it works to comply with lockdown rules and social distancing, but 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."
In order to adhere to social distancing and avoid unnecessary travel, 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.
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."