Budgies in 'all sorts of danger' rescued from Liverpool's Sefton Park
- Published
Mr McElwee said the pair were "undoubtedly someone's pets" that had been "simply discarded"
Two budgerigars which were abandoned in a city park were placed in "all sorts of danger", the RSPCA has said.
The charity said the pair of petite parakeets were left in Liverpool's Sefton Park in the run-up to Christmas.
Animal rescue officer David McElwee said they were "relatively easy to catch", but urged any owners struggling to feed pets to be more responsible.
"Whatever their circumstances, we'd urge people to seek help and advice," he said.
Mr McElwee was called to the park at about 14:20 GMT on 18 December after the birds were spotted by a member of the public.
He said he found the budgies near a clothes recycling bin at the entrance opposite St Hilda's CE High School on Croxteth Drive and asked anyone with information to get in touch.
The budgies were found near their cage in Sefton Park and were put back inside for transportation
"Thankfully the budgies had remained on the ground and were relatively easy to catch when I got there," he said.
"Abandoning them like this had put them in all sorts of danger and we're grateful to the member of the public who rang us so quickly.
"They were undoubtedly someone's pets and, for whatever reason, were no longer wanted and simply discarded.
"It's sad to see any animal being treated like this and whatever their circumstances, we'd urge people to seek help and advice.
He added that the birds had been checked at the charity's Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and "thankfully they don't appear to have any lasting issues, so we'll be looking to rehome them when they're fully recovered".
An RSPCA representative said recent data showed the number of cases of animal abandonment had soared to a "shocking three-year high amid the ongoing cost of living crisis".
They said the charity received more than 17,800 reports of abandoned animals across England and Wales up to the end of October, meaning it was on course to see a 32.9% rise in abandonment calls in 2023.
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