RSPCA says it is bracing for a crisis winter

Poppy and William were both found abandoned by the RSPCA in Kent

The RSPCA says it is bracing for "an unprecedented winter crisis" after figures revealed huge rises in animal abandonments in Surrey.

The charity was called out 228 times to reports of animal abandonment in Surrey so far this year - a 27.4% increase on 2020.

Among the animals recenty dumped in south-east England was a bearded dragon and two tortoises who were abandoned cardboard box in Horsham, West Sussex.

Dermot Murphy, who heads the RSPCA frontline rescue teams, has blamed the cost of living crisis for the abandonments.

He said: “The combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis has created a perfect storm.

“We’re desperately concerned about the coming winter months in Surrey. Abandonments have soared and many rescue centres are full to bursting, so we are facing an unprecedented winter crisis."

This bearded dragon was found abandoned in East Sussex

In January, the RSPCA found two tortoises in a cardboard box in Horsham.

The tortoises should be kept at a temperature of fifteen degrees in the evening and up to twenty five degrees during the day, due to their Mediterranean roots.

However, the RSPCA says that they were found in good health and they were rehomed in the South Essex Wildlife Hospital, Grays.

The charity has been called out to 17,838 cases of animal abandonment in England and Wales so far in 2023 - already surpassing the total for 2020.

The total figure for 2023 is expected to be far higher than the number of reports received in 2021 (17,179) and 2022 (19,645).

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