RSPCA warns of increase in abandoned pets

Nova, who was found abandoned in Devon, suffered from severe malnutrition and cachexia

An animal charity has warned of an increase of animal abandonment in the lead-up to winter.

The RSPCA said animal abandonment cases in Devon had gone up by 14.9% so far this year, with 362 incidents logged by the end of October, compared with 315 last year.

In Cornwall animal abandonment cases went up by 40.4%, with 205 incidents, compared with 146 last year, according to the charity's figures.

It said in one particularly bad case a dog named Nova in Devon was confined to a cage and left to starve, while in Cornwall a dog named Layla was rescued from "a filthy, faeces-filled and rubbish garage".

'Hopeless cruelty'

In Nova's case, the RSPCA said the dog suffered with severe malnutrition and cachexia, a metabolic syndrome that causes significant loss of muscle and fat tissue.

A concerned resident got in touch with the RSPCA and it was discovered her former owner had moved address and left her behind, said the charity.

Nova, now about two years old, had since made a good recovery and had regained weight and muscle tone.

It said Layla, the dog rescued from Cornwall, had since been rehomed.

RSPCA superintendent Simon Osborne said colder temperatures and dark nights would make it harder for animals over coming months.

"Every year, we find loving new homes for tens of thousands of pets, and rescue countless animals from situations of hopeless cruelty and neglect," he said.