RSPCA figures show that during the winter months neglect is the most commonly called-about issue for the charity.
The RSPCA receives more calls about neglect to animals than any other issue during the winter months*, receiving on average one call every four minutes.
While many people are busy Christmas shopping, going on winter walks or cooking a family dinner, others are having to make a call to the RSPCA.
The figures show the shocking reality that while most will be getting excited in the build up to Christmas, the work of the RSPCA never stops, and it’s neglect that is the biggest concern during the winter months. (Based on 2015 figures.)
Last winter the RSPCA took thousands of calls about neglected animals, which leaves the charity and its supporters asking: ‘Where’s the love?’
The charity has today launched its ‘Love Animals, Hate Cruelty’ winter campaign which aims to bring these issues to the attention of our animal-loving nation and remind people that amongst the celebrations in the build up to the festive season, a huge number of calls are being made to report neglect.
From animals left without shelter or adequate food and water, to those left with painful untreated injuries or illness, statistics show that from October 2015 to January 2016, 45,176 calls were made to the RSPCA about animals suffering due to neglect.
This works out at 15 calls every single hour, not to mention the huge number of other calls the charity receives on top of this relating to other issues like abandonment and deliberate acts of cruelty.
Some of the more upsetting neglect cases the RSPCA saw last winter include:
A four-year old pony found tied up with a chain cutting into her skin.
A 12-year old Jack Russell found with an untreated tumour the size of a football
A bearded dragon neglected so severely he developed a fatal condition
A litter of three week-old kittens that tragically died of anaemia caused by a chronic flea infestation
The trend looks to have begun again this winter, as only last week the RSPCA took in a dog suffering from such a severe untreated skin condition, she has virtually no fur left. The dog, now named ‘Ivy’ (pictured below) is at RSPCA Harmsworth Animal Hospital and is responding well to treatment.
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