The RSPCA today revealed a sad surge in the number of animals abandoned in Greater Manchester. The charity also revealed two poorly puppies found dumped in a plastic bag on a street in Wythenshawe were ‘discarded like rubbish’.
Greater Manchester has seen a 33 per cent increase in animal abandonment since the cost of living crisis began, the RSPCA said. And shocking figures show the number of animals abandoned in England and Wales during the winter period has increased by a massive 51 per cent in just three years.
The charity has released the new statistics to highlight the battle frontline rescuers face ahead of what is expected to be another bleak winter for thousands of animals as part of its Join The Christmas Rescue campaign.
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In Greater Manchester, the latest figures show the number of abandonment reports to the RSPCA for 2023 was 1,250 – up from 942 in 2021 when the cost of living crisis began – an increase of a third.
In total, 20,999 abandonment reports were made to the charity’s emergency line in 2023 and according to latest 2024 figures – available up until the end of October – 19,067 have been reported so far this year.
Before the cost of living crisis, the number of reported abandonments during 2020 stood at 16,118.
The RSPCA said it believes the surge in pet ownership during the Covid-19 lockdown, and the increasing financial hardships due to soaring living costs, have led to the increase in people dumping their pets.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs said: “We are seeing a shocking rise in the number of calls reporting pet abandonment to our emergency line during winter with an eye-watering 51 per cent rise in three years. Sadly we expect the trend will continue as more pet owners face financial hardship at this time of year more than any other
“Our rescuers are regularly coming across dogs in poor health, collapsed and left in isolated spots to suffer a lingering death; sick kittens discarded in cardboard boxes who are lucky to be found alive; or pet rabbits dumped in the wild with little chance of survival against predators.
“With the cost of living crisis we are also seeing people having to move out of properties due to financial pressures, and we are increasingly coming across pets who have been left locked in homes alone after their owners have moved out.
“Heartbreakingly, we are seeing many pets left in their own filth – with no food or water, no-one to care for them and no idea if anyone will come to help them. Thanks to the public supporting us we are able to rescue many animals, rehabilitate them and find them new homes – but to continue this life-saving work we need your help.”
The RSPCA said the abandoned puppies, just days old, were found dumped in a carrier bag last month in an alleyway off Hollyhedge Road, Wythenshawe. The dogs were covered in fleas and bites and sadly only survived for two days, despite the best efforts of their rescuer.
RSPCA Inspector Deborah Beats, who is investigating for the animal welfare charity, said: “Both dogs were severely underweight and riddled in fleas and covered in blood from the flea bites. Sadly both dogs passed away on October 24. It’s heartbreaking that they were discarded like rubbish. All animals deserve our kindness and respect but instead of love and care, these puppies were just thrown away without a thought for their welfare or whether they would survive.”
To help the RSPCA rescue more animals visit rspca.org.uk/winterappeal
