Animal abandonment is at its highest level for six years and could be the indicator of a “grim” winter for many pets, the RSPCA is warning.
Incidents of abandonment raised with the charity have risen by more than 23% in the first 10 months of the year, with 24,270 incidents about an animal being abandoned or dumped reported to charity’s emergency line up to the end of October, up from 19,727 in the first 10 months of 2024.
In response, the organisation has launched a fresh fundraising appeal, named The Big Give Back To Animals.
RSPCA superintendent Simon Osborne said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year for many pets, and we have seen a dramatic and heartbreaking rise in abandonments this year. And with Winter upon us, with plummeting temperatures and dark nights, we fear things could get even harder in the months to come.
“Sadly, animal abandonment has become so problematic and so tragically widespread, that we’ve seen more incidents every month this year when compared to 2024; and reports have been rising year after year.
“There’s an epidemic of animal abandonment and neglect, meaning our officers are needed now more than ever to respond to those animals in the most urgent need of help.”
