A heartbreaking 775 calls had been made to the RSPCA’s cruelty line on Christmas Day alone final yr – calls that led to rescues of pets like Freya, who was discovered ravenous and deserted, locked in a flat.
The RSPCA is making ready for its busiest time of yr as alarming new figures present a 23% rise in pets left deserted and residential alone in the course of the festive season.
From 18 December 2023 to 2 January 2024, the charity obtained 25,230 reviews to its cruelty line – a mean of 158 calls per hour. This included a staggering 775 calls taken on Christmas Day itself.
Over the Christmas interval, the charity handled 1,089 reported circumstances of pets deserted in houses, up from 884 circumstancesthroughout the identical interval in 2022/23. This sharp enhance has left 660 canines and 369 cats – typically terrified, trapped, and ravenous – to fend for themselves.
Ian Briggs, RSPCA Chief Inspector, mentioned:
“It’s unimaginable that anybody may abandon a pet at any time of yr, not to mention Christmas. Final yr we noticed a 23% enhance in animals deserted within the residence over the Christmas interval – typically whereas their house owners went away celebrating the festive season with out giving a thought for the care of their pets.”
Freya’s Story: Starved And Deserted For 9 Days
A kind of calls led to the rescue of Freya, a ravenous cat trapped in a dirty flat for 9 days over Christmas, alongside her feline companion, Minnie.
An RSPCA inspector first visited the Better Manchester property on Christmas Day after receiving a tip-off. Unable to realize entry, she positioned seals on the door to watch for any motion.
On a follow-up go to two days later, Inspector Rachel Whalley noticed a cat desperately pawing at a niche underneath the door. Rachel recalled:
“I went to my van, retrieved two sachets of moist cat meals, and managed to squeeze them underneath the hole. Each cats had been ravenous, pawing on the sachets in desperation.”
With the assistance of Better Manchester Police, entry was gained. A terrified Freya bolted into Rachel’s arms. Inside, Minnie was discovered sat amongst piles of garbage, timid and severely underweight.
Rachel described the scene:
“The flat was strewn with muddle and hazards, unsafe for cats. There have been empty meals bowls, cat faeces on the ground, and overflowing litter trays.”
Each cats had been rushed to the RSPCA Better Manchester Animal Hospital. Freya weighed simply 1.1kg (a wholesome weight is round 3.6-4.5kg). With particular care, each cats recovered on the Warrington, St Helens, and Halton RSPCA department.
A Completely happy Ending For Freya
Freya discovered a foster residence with Helen Howlett (principal picture above) in Warrington, Cheshire. Helen shortly fell in love along with her, and Freya now enjoys a loving endlessly residence.
Helen shared:
“Freya is now so loving and affectionate. Generally we get up to her toys outdoors our room, like she’s asking us to play. She even climbs underneath the quilt and sleeps between us!
“She has introduced a lot pleasure to our lives – she’s loving, hilarious, and superb firm. We’re so grateful to the RSPCA for rescuing her.”
Minnie, Freya’s black-and-white buddy, additionally discovered a contented residence.
The Ongoing Disaster
The RSPCA revealed a 30% rise in abandonment circumstances during the last three years, with monetary pressures and the price of residing disaster cited as main components. The festive season typically sees a worsening of those tendencies as folks battle with increased payments and the extra bills of Christmas.
Rachel added:
“Because of the general public’s assist, we are able to rescue animals like Freya and Minnie, rehabilitate them, and discover them new houses. However to proceed this life-saving work, we want your assist.
“We are able to’t cease for Christmas. So long as any animal is struggling, we are going to preserve going to succeed in and rescue them. Please be part of The Christmas Rescue and assist our groups give these animals the pressing care and love they want.”
To assist the RSPCA’s Christmas Rescue and save extra animals like Freya, go to: rspca.org.uk/winterappeal
A heartbreaking 775 calls had been made to the RSPCA’s cruelty line on Christmas Day alone final yr – calls that led to rescues of pets like Freya, who was discovered ravenous and deserted, locked in a flat.
The RSPCA is making ready for its busiest time of yr as alarming new figures present a 23% rise in pets left deserted and residential alone in the course of the festive season.
From 18 December 2023 to 2 January 2024, the charity obtained 25,230 reviews to its cruelty line – a mean of 158 calls per hour. This included a staggering 775 calls taken on Christmas Day itself.
Over the Christmas interval, the charity handled 1,089 reported circumstances of pets deserted in houses, up from 884 circumstancesthroughout the identical interval in 2022/23. This sharp enhance has left 660 canines and 369 cats – typically terrified, trapped, and ravenous – to fend for themselves.
Ian Briggs, RSPCA Chief Inspector, mentioned:
“It’s unimaginable that anybody may abandon a pet at any time of yr, not to mention Christmas. Final yr we noticed a 23% enhance in animals deserted within the residence over the Christmas interval – typically whereas their house owners went away celebrating the festive season with out giving a thought for the care of their pets.”
Freya’s Story: Starved And Deserted For 9 Days
A kind of calls led to the rescue of Freya, a ravenous cat trapped in a dirty flat for 9 days over Christmas, alongside her feline companion, Minnie.
An RSPCA inspector first visited the Better Manchester property on Christmas Day after receiving a tip-off. Unable to realize entry, she positioned seals on the door to watch for any motion.
On a follow-up go to two days later, Inspector Rachel Whalley noticed a cat desperately pawing at a niche underneath the door. Rachel recalled:
“I went to my van, retrieved two sachets of moist cat meals, and managed to squeeze them underneath the hole. Each cats had been ravenous, pawing on the sachets in desperation.”
With the assistance of Better Manchester Police, entry was gained. A terrified Freya bolted into Rachel’s arms. Inside, Minnie was discovered sat amongst piles of garbage, timid and severely underweight.
Rachel described the scene:
“The flat was strewn with muddle and hazards, unsafe for cats. There have been empty meals bowls, cat faeces on the ground, and overflowing litter trays.”
Each cats had been rushed to the RSPCA Better Manchester Animal Hospital. Freya weighed simply 1.1kg (a wholesome weight is round 3.6-4.5kg). With particular care, each cats recovered on the Warrington, St Helens, and Halton RSPCA department.
A Completely happy Ending For Freya
Freya discovered a foster residence with Helen Howlett (principal picture above) in Warrington, Cheshire. Helen shortly fell in love along with her, and Freya now enjoys a loving endlessly residence.
Helen shared:
“Freya is now so loving and affectionate. Generally we get up to her toys outdoors our room, like she’s asking us to play. She even climbs underneath the quilt and sleeps between us!
“She has introduced a lot pleasure to our lives – she’s loving, hilarious, and superb firm. We’re so grateful to the RSPCA for rescuing her.”
Minnie, Freya’s black-and-white buddy, additionally discovered a contented residence.
The Ongoing Disaster
The RSPCA revealed a 30% rise in abandonment circumstances during the last three years, with monetary pressures and the price of residing disaster cited as main components. The festive season typically sees a worsening of those tendencies as folks battle with increased payments and the extra bills of Christmas.
Rachel added:
“Because of the general public’s assist, we are able to rescue animals like Freya and Minnie, rehabilitate them, and discover them new houses. However to proceed this life-saving work, we want your assist.
“We are able to’t cease for Christmas. So long as any animal is struggling, we are going to preserve going to succeed in and rescue them. Please be part of The Christmas Rescue and assist our groups give these animals the pressing care and love they want.”
To assist the RSPCA’s Christmas Rescue and save extra animals like Freya, go to: rspca.org.uk/winterappeal