More pet owners are abandoning their animals due to the recession, new figures show.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said there had been a 40 per cent increase in the number of animals left to fend for themselves across the South East.
Kelli Ellison, an RSPCA inspector working across east Kent, said: “We do have a lot of abandoned animals and it has increased the highest proportion of which can be put down to the recession.
“People have said to me that they are struggling and cannot afford the vet bills. A lot of people are now trying to rehome their animals.”
In 2008, there were 2,275 animals abandoned compared to 1,602 the previous year in the South East, the animal welfare charity said.
Nationally, the number of pets being dumped had soared by 57 per cent, which equates to a shocking 30 animals being abandoned every day.
The number of calls from pet owners want to give up their animals is also up by 52 per cent nationally, which Miss Ellison said was also true in Kent.
She said that types of animals being found by the charity’s inspectors were mainly cats and dogs but in her part of the county, which covers rural areas around Ashford and Folkestone, she had discovered horse and even pigs.
“It is all sorts of domestic animals but we do get other abandonments such as horses left in fields and we even had a couple of pigs,” she said.
“They might have been pets and got dumped because their owners could not afford them any more.
“There are a lot of abandoned horses in my area. I found a horse tied to a tree that was found underweight so it was obviously poorly and the owner did not want to pay for its vet bills.
“It is happening and it is happening more and more.”
Miss Ellison said it was important people realised that those found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal could face a maximum six-month prison sentence and a £20,000 fine.
She said the cruelty animals are subjected to by their owners never stops shocking her.
In an appalling example of mistreatment, three German shepherd dogs were found dead at a beauty spot at Wouldham near Rochester.
The adult dog was found with a broken leg, a broken back and cut injuries all over its body. Two six-month old puppies were found nearby with similar injuries.
Miss Ellison said at the end of last year she had discovered tow cats in a basket dumped in a car park by a bin. They had collars but no identification.
“It was but it was a decent cat box and they had a blanket so they had obviously been looked after. Why would anyone do that?” she said.
“You can always go into an RSPCA centre but go as soon as possible. People leave it to a point when it is suddenly happening and they just leave the animal.
“All the animal homes have long waiting lists. There has been an increase in the number trying to get into animals homes.
“Because of waiting times of a few weeks we are advising people to do it sooner rather than later. So many people are calling and also other animal charities that might be able to help.”
She urged people to be responsible pet owners and research the cost of any pet they were considering before buying it.
There are basics like vaccinations, flea and worming treating, neutering, microchips, food, bedding, toys and insurance so that if anything does go wrong they are covered, to consider.
For estimates contact a local vet.
RSPCA chief officer Tim Wass added: “If people have pets they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is always available from the RSPCA. We know things are going to get tougher.
“The RSPCA already works collaboratively with countless other animal charities and groups – this may well increase further as we all work together to combat the current downturn.”
POSTED: 03/05/2009 16:00:00
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