Pets are increasingly being dumped as the cost-of-living crisis hits owners in the pocket.
The RSPCA estimates that one animal is cast aside every 15 minutes, with abandonment reports up 24% on last year’s figures.
Between January and July, the charity took in almost 23,000 unwanted pets.
It believes that many people who got animals during the pandemic are now finding that rising food and energy costs make pets an unaffordable expense.
The Sunday People joined rescue officer Caitlin Farrant on her eight-hour shift covering callouts in London and Essex last week.
Caitlin, 22, says that in the last six months, she has noticed a sharp increase in the number of callouts for dumped pets and a rise in welfare complaints.
Caitlin, who has worked for the RSPCA for three years, says: “It has always been busy but since the pandemic, it has been relentless… really intense.
“The amount of animals that have been returned or abandoned since Covid is insane.
“Now, people either can’t afford to keep them or they have gone back to work, can’t look after them and can’t afford a cattery or kennels.
“Loads of people who want to get rid of their pets decide to do it then realise there is a waiting list at a lot of rehoming centres because adoption numbers are low, so they are dumping kittens on the street in carriers or rabbits in parks. It’s a vicious cycle.”
Some 1,031 reports of intentional harm against animals were made to the RSPCA in Greater London last year, making the area the “cruellest county” in England and Wales.
During our shift, we are called to investigate six welfare concern reports.
In one case, the owners of a German shepherd have allegedly failed to buy medical treatment for their dog’s ear infection so Caitlin gives them a week to get it sorted.
Another woman has reportedly not fed or watered a litter of kittens, so Caitlin arranges to visit.
Another report claims that a bulldog has been left with a “gammy eye” – but Caitlin is satisfied that the pet is not being mistreated.
These complaints aren’t unusual though. Caitlin says: “We do see people who can’t afford vet bills or they avoid properly treating [their animals] until they get paid.
“People are buying blankets so they don’t have to turn on their heating, but they’re not thinking about their pets. They are too busy worrying about whether they can afford to eat and stay warm.
“Some keep their dogs outside and use outdoor heaters, but they are turning those off to save money. It will only get colder from now on, so it is a real worry.”
In some cases, Caitlin has been left with no option but to take people’s beloved pets away.
“It’s heartbreaking when you know someone genuinely cares about animals but can’t help them because they can’t afford to or don’t have the capacity,” she says.
“These animals are sometimes people’s best friends. But you have no choice but to detach yourself to get the animal sorted and make sure welfare is upheld.”
While we are on patrol, one of Caitlin’s 14 colleagues is called to rescue some hamsters that have been dumped in their cage in a park.
Another is alerted to an “emaciated” chihuahua, which tragically dies while on the way to receiving treatment.
Around 68% of owners are concerned about the increasing cost of pet care, according to the Animal Kindness Index 2022. And 19% worry about how they will afford to feed their pets.
Caitlin often directs struggling pet owners to foodbanks and even delivers bags of kibble to help tide people over.
But food is not the only problem.
Caitlin, from Hornchurch, Essex, says: “People can’t afford boarding kennels so lots just leave their animals unattended for days at a time.
“If we don’t get an answer where there’s a report of an abandoned animal at an address, we put tape over the lock and door. When we return 24 hours later, we can see that, if it’s still intact, that means nobody’s returned. This can be used as evidence of neglect or abandonment down the line.”
Often, Caitlin’s job is as simple as having a chat with the owner and offering advice.
But sometimes, she will need to issue formal warnings with specific targets and she often works alongside social services, the police and even the fire brigade. Caitlin – who works alone but has a panic button in case of emergencies – admits she sometimes gets verbally abused and feels intimidated when confronting hostile owners.
But the rescue officer, whose van is also tracked by her bosses, says it is all worth it to tackle animal cruelty.
Caitlin, who has a pet cavapoo called Bonnie, said: “You deal with what you have in front of you first, and deal with yourself later. Some of the sights stay with you, but as long as I can justify to myself what I’ve done to protect the animal, I can live with it.”
Towards the end of the shift, Caitlin takes us to a private cattery funded by the RSPCA which cares for rescues while they await permanent homes.
The cattery has 14 pens and is currently operating at “full capacity”, just like many shelters across the UK. Last year, the RSPCA rehomed 27,000 animals, but took in almost 60,000.
The charity is encouraging those who are in a position to take on a pet to consider adopting or fostering as part of its Adoptober campaign this month. All animals will have been fully assessed and will also be microchipped, neutered and vaccinated.
A day in the life of an RSPCA rescue officer
9am We meet Caitlin in Hornchurch, Essex, where she is already on the phone arranging appointments with pet owners who have been reported to the RSPCA. We set off to the first job in Canvey Island, 45 minutes away.
10am We visit a house where someone has reported a dog with mangy, matted fur and a limp. There’s no answer so Caitlin leaves a note, asking the owner to get in touch.
10.45am We arrive in Basildon, to a report of a bulldog with a “gammy eye”. Caitlin speaks to the owner and is satisfied that the dog is being treated properly.
11am Caitlin calls a woman accused of not feeding her litter of kittens properly. She makes an appointment to visit. “There’s a chance it could be a money issue and she can’t afford to feed them,” Caitlin says.
11.45am We pull up in Romford, to a report of an owner beating his three German shepherds. He makes us wait outside for 25 minutes before letting us see the animals caged in a shed in his garden. Dog mess litters the grass. He denies beating the animals and we leave. “There’s no evidence so there’s nothing more we can do for now,” Caitlin explains.
12.20pm We leave a note with the owner of a French bulldog in Dagenham, who is said to have removed her dog’s bandages prematurely after its leg was injured in a door.
1pm During an hour-long lunch break, Caitin shares photos of abandoned kittens that she and her colleagues have found dumped across Essex and London.
2pm We arrive at another address in Dagenham to deal with a concern raised by a vet who prescribed a German shepherd medication for an ear infection and asked the owner to bring the dog back for checks. The owners have allegedly done neither. Caitlin tells me: “Again, this could be for money reasons. A vet consultation and treatment can sometimes end up being £500.” She inspects the dog and gives an official warning to get the pet its prescribed medication.
3pm Caitlin has been asked to check in with the relatives of a man who has mental health issues and was unable to care for his four pet rabbits, but there is no answer.
4pm We head to a private cattery in Essex. The RSPCA hires pens there to house rescue animals while they await homes.
5pm Caitlin heads home. She says: “Knowing an animal is at a property you don’t feel comfortable with is hard, but it’s worth it when you get the animal out.”
