It’s over, Rover
The recession is being blamed as cruelty to pets soars along with the number being abandoned. How can this happen in a nation of animal lovers?
The RSPCA has revealed that the nation appears to be falling out of love with its pets (Getty)
New figures from the RSPCA have revealed that the nation appears to be falling out of love with its pets, who have been the silent victims of the economic downturn. The charity reported that 40,595 were abandoned in Britain last year. This figure is almost double the 24,638 discarded in 2007. The charity, funded entirely through public donations, also reported that it was able to find a home for only 12,711 dogs last year, a sharp fall from the 16,659 in 2009. It predicts a further 6,000 dogs and cats will be abandoned before the end of the year. The Scottish SPCA has also reported a big increase in the number of exotic animals being taken in at its shelters. Pets such as snakes, chameleons and turtles have all been abandoned in recent months.
The reason for such a change in attitude is clear: pet owners handing over their animals to local sanctuaries have said they simply can no longer afford to pay for their upkeep. Many families who have sold their homes and moved into rented accommodation have been forced to give up their pets. More worryingly, there has been a 24% increase in convictions for cruelty to animals in the past five years. In recent months the RSPCA has dealt with cases that included a cat being burnt to death in a wheelie bin and three shih-tzus found in squalid conditions in Northumberland. The charity said the dogs’ coats “were so dirty and dreadlocked you couldn’t tell one end from the other”.
Another problem caused by tightened purse strings is the reluctance of owners to pay for neutering, which has led to a proliferation of unwanted animals, particularly cats. Neutering a cat costs an average of £60. Sarah Bussell, who manages the Blue Cross adoption centre in Devon, said: “We have had people throwing their cats over the gate because they are so desperate.” Cat Protection, a welfare charity, said the number of unwanted cats in Britain has hit an all-time high. It estimates that more than 20,000 people reported or gave up a stray cat to them last summer alone. Large numbers of feral tomcats are roaming the streets. Wild cats also tend to breed far more quickly: in five years an unneutered female can have as many as 20,000 descendants.
Animal charities are urging Britons to rediscover their compassion as they struggle to cope with what Gavin Grant, the RSPCA’s chief executive, calls a “crisis”. The charity has made efficiency savings in the past year but costs have still increased by 8% from £111m to £120m. “Despite the immense dedication of our staff and volunteers, we are struggling to cope,” said Grant. “People have been hanging on in the hope things will get better but, of course, they have not and when it gets too difficult, the cat or the dog just gets pushed out the door and dumped. We need the nation of animal lovers to live up to its name, and for people to open their homes and their wallets for these animals.”
