'Ask for help instead of dumping pets on doorstep'

Ten-week-old kittens Kiki and Jiji were dumped in a cardboard box and left at the RSPCA in Coventry

An animal charity is urging people to ask staff for help instead of dumping pets on its doorstep.

It comes after Coventry's branch of the RSPCA had a box of kittens, initially cared for for up to 10 weeks, abandoned on its doorstep.

Lorraine Bryan, centre manager in Allesley, said she and her staff were abused on a daily basis by people offloading unwanted animals, because its cattery was currently undergoing a revamp and does not have room for the extra pets.

In the UK, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the abandonment of animals can result in a one-year jail sentence, a £40,000 fine, or both.

Although the modernising of Coventry and District's branch of the charity continues, the charity says it is able to assist pet owners in other ways.

"It is taking a bit longer than usual because, due to the very strict licence conditions that we have, we've had to have a rebuild of most of the cattery," explained Ms Bryan.

"We're all working really hard and trying our best, but we're just overflowing. It's frustrating when people just turn up and abandon animals.

"We've had to turn people away daily that turn up at the centre. We will get to you.

"[But] when people shout, and the abuse that me and the team get on a regular basis when we're just trying to do our jobs and work hard, I do think is very unfair."

Staff said they were being abused for turning people away while the cattery was being rebuilt,

The charity said it had seen a 19% increase in the number of cats and kittens brought in since 2020 and the Coventry branch said this year had been the worst.

Last month it rescued 90 cats, of which 30 have since been rehomed, and Ms Bryan said as much as they would like to help as many animals as possible there was a limit on how many they could help.

'Abide by rules'

"Anyone finding themselves with any problems, contact us straight away. We'll always offer food or litter or anything we can do to help you in the meantime," she said.

"We are here for the people as well as the animals. We do try our absolute best. It's a struggle to even maintain the centre.

"It costs £46,000 a month to keep us going and it's getting worse each year obviously with the increase and everything."

"So for people to not think that they have to abide by any rules that other people do, and to just be aggressive with us, I really don't think it's fair."

The new cattery at the Counden Edge site is due to be finished by the end of the year.