Animal abandonment up 10 per cent

Date published: 30/04/2008

The number of animals abandoned by their owners in the north of England shot up by 10 per cent last year.

RSPCA staff rescued 2,009 dumped pets in 2007, an increase of 85 on 2006.

Examples included a litter of week-old kittens abandoned in a suitcase in a supermarket car park in Runcorn. A rabbit was dumped in a cardboard box in a crushing machine at a recycling centre in Northallerton.

The news coincides with RSPCA week (April 28 to May 4) and a spokesperson said: “We work around the clock to rescue thousands of animals every year from a wide range of distressing situations, and 2007 was no exception.

“We want people to spare a thought for the many thousands of animals needing our help each year, and in particular for anyone thinking about getting a pet to consider the responsibility they are taking on before doing so.

“It is an offence to abandon any animal and there is never any excuse for doing so. If people have pets they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is always available from the RSPCA.”

Nationally there has been a 23 per cent increase in the number of abandoned animals: up from 5,959 in 2006 to 7,347.