The RSPCA has revealed that it is spending half a million pounds per month on private boarding for animals in its care, as its own national rescue centres are at full capacity.
In the first four months of this year, it has cost the RSPCA £2.1 million to provide care for animals privately, and the Society currently has 1,441 animals in private boarding, including 503 dogs, 126 rabbits, 201 cats, 285 horses, 58 exotic animals and 126 farm animals.
More than 200 dogs are waiting to be rehomed but need spaces freed up in RSPCA rehoming centres so they can begin their training and rehabilitation, as the national centres cannot rehome animals directly from private kennels.
The RSPCA has capacity for 1,500 animals across its 14 national animal rehoming centres. More spaces are available at the 45 animal centres run by its 139 separately-registered branches, but capacity figures for these are not collated centrally. Officials at the organisation claim that the rehoming centres are at “breaking point” as animals are arriving faster than they leave.
Head of animal logistics and welfare oversight Karen Colman said: “As we celebrate our 200th birthday this year, it’s incredible to see how far animal welfare has come since our founding in 1824. But the sad reality is that there’s still so much to do, and we’re currently facing an animal welfare crisis. Our rescue and rehoming centres are at breaking point with the number of animals coming in versus the number being rehomed.
“We currently have 503 dogs waiting to come into our rehoming centres and, while they wait, they’re being cared for by an amazing network of private boarding kennels. But, amid the cost of living crisis, many of these have also had to increase their prices, making it a growing expense for us. The bills we’re facing are mounting every month.
“Sadly, more animals in need are coming into us all the time – many who have been the victims of awful cruelty, abuse and neglect – and rehoming rates have struggled in recent years as many families feel the pinch of the cost of living crisis and make the decision not to take on a pet.
“We’re launching an urgent appeal to those families who do feel they commit to the cost and responsibility of a pet to please consider adopting a rescue instead of buying from a breeder or a pet shop. We have hundreds of animals in our care with so much love to give, they just need a chance.”
