The RSPCA has launched its annual Adoptober marketing campaign encouraging potential pet house owners to contemplate giving a rescued animal a brand new home. The marketing campaign comes as new figures increase issues that extra animals are being relinquished to charities at a time when rehoming has slowed.
The animal welfare charity – which operates 14 nationwide rehoming centres throughout England and Wales, whereas supporting a community of branches with an extra 45 animal shelters – has launched new figures that present rehoming has dropped 8% whereas animal consumption is up 8.4% year-on-year.
The RSPCA’s annual Adoptober rehoming drive has kicked off as we speak – coinciding with World Animal Day (4 October) – and can run all through October, selling adoption and highlighting the various animals the charity has ready to search out their excellent match.
The charity fears that the cost of residing disaster means extra animals are coming into its care whereas fewer individuals are contemplating taking up a brand new pet.
Releasing new figures as we speak, the RSPCA has highlighted a possible animal rescue disaster as extra animals come into care, and keep in rescue centres for longer, with fewer individuals coming ahead to undertake.
In 2021, the RSPCA’s community of centres and branches rehomed 26,945 animals. That is an 8% drop in comparison with the earlier yr when 29,358 animals have been rehomed and an enormous 31% drop from 2019 (39,178), regardless of the Covid pandemic affecting the way in which by which charities throughout the nation may rehome.
The variety of dogs rehomed by the charity additionally fell 6% from 4,877 in 2020 to 4,567 in 2021; whereas cats dropped 12% from 17,868 in 2020 to fifteen,579 in 2021.
On the similar time, the common keep for an animal (the variety of days they spend in RSPCA care from being able to rehome to leaving for his or her new home) additionally elevated for dogs by 9.4% – from 85 days in 2020 to 93 days in 2021 – and for rabbits – from 104 in 2020 to 117 in 2021, a rise of 12.5%. Cats’ size of keep remained the identical at 67 days.
Dr Samantha Gaines, RSPCA’s pet welfare skilled, mentioned:
It is actually regarding to see that animals are staying in our look after longer and that fewer are being rehomed year-on-year. Sadly, we consider we’re actually beginning to see the devastating affect of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of residing disaster.
Lots of the animals – notably dogs – who’re coming into our care have behavioural challenges which may very well be linked to how they have been bred in addition to lockdown limiting the quantity of coaching, socialising and outdoors world expertise that they had.
We’re additionally starting to see extra animals coming into our care as a result of their house owners merely could not afford to look after them anymore; or, in probably the most excessive instances, having been uncared for or deserted because of the rising cost of pet care.
Sadly, that is coming on the similar time that potential pet house owners are deciding now is not the perfect time to tackle an animal because of the hovering cost of residing, and really feel they can not financially decide to including a pet to their household at such a worrying time.
For individuals who are capable of deliver a pet into their home, we’re urging them to essentially take into account adopting quite than shopping for. Lots of our animals will already be neutered, vaccinated and handled for fleas and worms – making it far more cost-effective – and we’ll work with them to ensure they discover their excellent match.
In 2021, the RSPCA noticed extra dogs, rabbits and different pets (together with small furries, pet birds, livestock and exotics) coming into its care than in 2020. Consumption for cats and horses fell by 1.7% and 18.1%, respectively.
Final yr, the charity rescued:
- 7,412 dogs – 11.9% greater than the 6,624 in 2020
- 7.1% extra rabbits (2,731 in comparison with 2,549)
- 6% extra different pets (5,900 in comparison with 5,566)
The RSPCA’s Animal Kindness Index – launched earlier this yr – highlighted the affect the cost of residing disaster is having on pet house owners. The survey discovered that 68% of pet house owners have been involved in regards to the rising cost of pet care whereas 19% have been fearful about having the ability to afford to feed their pets.
Figures launched by the charity in August revealed that its cruelty line was receiving greater than 100 reviews a day of animals being deserted all through 2021 and the priority is that the cost of residing disaster may result in this rising even larger.
Lengthy-stays on the lookout for love
The RSPCA is looking for properties for a whole bunch of animals in the intervening time, with many extra in its care who aren’t fairly able to go to their new households. Listed here are a few of their longest-stay residents:
- 4-year-old terrier Yoko arrived at Cotswolds Canine and Cats Home, Gloucestershire, in Might 2021. He is been patiently ready for his perpetually home for a really lengthy 19 months. He is a cheeky chap with a giant persona however he has a powerful searching drive so will want house owners who perceive this. He is very intelligent and desires numerous stimulation to maintain him busy.
- Lurcher Clover has been ready at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre for her perpetually home for almost 18 months. She’s an lively and intelligent woman who loves spending time with individuals and enjoying with bouncy balls. She’s bought a excessive chase intuition so will must be saved on the lead when out walking however likes to run free in a safe backyard or paddock. This loving and affectionate woman is on the lookout for her excellent match and would ideally like an adult-only home with out different pets.
Mom and daughter bunnies, Melody and Marisa, have been ready for greater than two-and-a-half years to discover a home collectively. They arrived at RSPCA Studying with Oxon Border department in March 2020 and went right into a long-term foster home however are actually again within the centre’s care to search out their perpetually home. They are often fairly timid so are on the lookout for a peaceful home with older youngsters or adults. They’d like a big outside enclosure the place they will discover and play. - Ten-year-old German Shepherd, Jake, has spent almost two years ready for his perpetually home at RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre, Hertfordshire. He is a candy, affectionate boy who loves sitting with you for cuddles and occurring lengthy walks. He is described as ‘everyone’s greatest good friend’ however could be a little nervous of different dogs which causes him to bark so he is on the lookout for a home with skilled house owners who might help him transfer forwards.
- Additionally at Southridge, are bunnies Fozzie and Scooter, who’ve spent almost their complete lives in RSPCA care, after being rescued from a building website two years and 9 months in the past. The shy rabbits are regarded as half wild rabbit so they do not like being dealt with. They want an skilled adult-only home with individuals who can slowly introduce them to human interplay.
- RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre is hoping to discover a particular home for a pair of gorgeous Alaskan Malamutes who’ve been of their look after 18 months. Six-year-old Joe and eight-year-old Zac had been residing as half of a giant pack at a website in Wales and had by no means lived inside a home earlier than. They’d like a home with out different pets or youngsters and ideally would go to somebody with expertise of the breed. They’re massive boys (weighing greater than 30kg every) and have massive hearts with numerous love to present to the appropriate individuals.
- One-year-old rabbit pair, Sawny and Yrene, arrived at RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre, Cambridgeshire individually however have now fashioned a beautiful bond. They like to snuggle up collectively however have sadly been ready for 18 months and nonetheless have not discovered their perpetually home. Sawny could be very candy and completely loves meals, binkying for treats! He is very lively and likes a bit of head stroke however remains to be getting used to being dealt with. Yrene could be very pleasant and likes to be hand-fed treats however would not wish to be dealt with.
- 4-year-old German shepherd-cross, Kobe, was introduced abroad as a puppy earlier than transferring to the UK. He was taken in by Stubbington Ark, Hampshire, and has been ready for over a yr for his perpetually home. He might be reactive in the direction of strangers and dogs so wants continued coaching. He is fashioned shut bonds with our workers and acts like a giant puppy round them. He loves toys, cuddles on the couch and enjoying new video games and studying methods.
Mom and daughter bunnies, 
4-year-old German shepherd-cross, Might you provide a rescue pet a loving new home? Please go to Discover A Pet to see the entire animals at present in our care who’re on the lookout for their excellent match.
The way to assist in different methods
Unable to supply a rescue pet a loving new home? Maybe you’ll be able to assist in different methods:
