RSPCA sees 'heartbreaking' rise in neglect calls

The RSPCA has revealed data showing a "heartbreaking" increase in the number of animal neglect reports.

The charity said its emergency line received 73,294 reports of neglect in England and Wales from January up to the end of October, a a 30% increase compared with the same period in 2024.

"The truth is, times are desperately tough – and innocent animals are tragically the ones paying the ultimate price," said RSPCA superintendent Simon Osborne.

The charity highlighted cases of animals in the West Midlands region it had rescued, including Morticia the cat, who was handed into a vet practice with her four kittens, who were all dumped in a carrier bag.

She is currently looking for a home in Worcestershire, where figures showed a 16% rise in calls to the RSPCA – with 718 so far this year, compared to 618 in 2024.

In Shropshire, the charity said it had received 533 reports about neglected animals in the first 10 months of the year - a 17% rise on the 456 in the same period last year.

In Staffordshire, RSPCA officers had 1,306 reports of neglect between January to October – an increase of 21% on the 1,080 on the first 10 months of last year.

Dog Marnie, who was taken into the care of the RSPCA Coventry branch's animal centre after being rescued by inspectors, is also among those looking for a new home.

The charity said nationally it was helping 70 animals per day to find new places to live.

"Animals are facing shocking levels of neglect right now - they are often starving behind closed doors and being left without the treatment they urgently need," Mr Osborne said.

The charity's figures shows that in the West Midlands conurbation, there were 2,793 reports about neglected animals this year up until the end of October.

That amount was a 12% increase on the comparable figures for 2024, in which 2,493 reports were made.

"The heartbreaking surge in neglect reports has already shattered our records, and we fear for what is to come over the winter months," Mr Osborne said.

"These are not just statistics, behind the staggering numbers are individual animals, all who desperately need and deserve our help to survive."

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