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Winter Crisis: Animal Abandonment Numbers Soar On The Isle Of Wight In 2023

The RSPCA has highlighted a 33.8% rise in incidents of animal abandonments on the Isle of Wight amid three-year high.

Such incidents have soared as the RSPCA warns that unwanted pets face a bleak winter - with incidents on the Isle of Wight rising sharply compared with 2020.

The animal welfare charity has today (Wednesday) released shocking new stats that show abandonments have been spiralling amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Already this year, up to the end of October, the animal welfare charity has received 17,838 reports of abandoned animals across England and Wales - which, if such trends continue, would equate to 21,417 reports over 2023.

This compares with 16,118 reports during the whole of 2020, meaning the RSPCA is on course to see an eye-watering 32.9% rise in abandonment calls this year.

It’s higher too than the number of reports received in 2021 (17,179) and 2022 (19,645).

And on the Isle of Wight, the charity is on course to receive 47 reports of animal abandonment this year - marking a 33.8%  rise on the number of reports received in the local community in 2020.

Dermot Murphy, who heads the RSPCA frontline rescue teams, said:

“The combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis has created a perfect storm - and means we expect more animals than ever will need our help this year.

"Abandonment calls to our emergency line are now at a three-year high, as we respond to an increasing number of animals being given up and dumped.

“Our rescue teams are set to be busier than ever this Christmas - so we need animal lovers to join the Christmas rescue and donate to help us be there for animals in desperate need as neglect and abandonment soars.”

This year the RSPCA is asking supporters to Join the Christmas Rescue by donating to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them.

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