Animal abandonment on the rise in Suffolk ahead of ‘grim’ Winter

Reports of animals being abandoned have sky-rocketed in Suffolk this year – with incidents raised with the RSPCA up by more than 10 per cent in the first 10 months of the year, ahead of a potentially “grim” Winter for pets.

Up to the end of October, 228 incidents about an animal being abandoned or dumped in the county had been raised with the charity’s emergency line – up from 207 in the first 10 months of 2024.

And with charity rescuers braced for a further surge in reports over the Winter months, the RSPCA has launched an urgent appeal – The Big Give Back to Animals – in the hope of raising vital funds for its frontline officers.

The charity fears for animals across Suffolk over the Winter season with “plummeting temperatures and dark nights” placing animals at even greater risk from abandonment.

Across England and Wales, 24,270 abandonment incidents have been reported so far this year – a rise of almost 23pc compared with the same time period last year (19,727).

That means – in the first 10 months of this year – an abandonment incident was reported to the RSPCA’s emergency line every nine minutes it was open.

Last Winter (November to January), 5,902 incidents of animal abandonment were raised with the charity – and there are fears the upward trend of cases is set to continue in the coming months.

There were 46 abandonment incidents last Winter in Suffolk alone.

Reports of animal abandonment will this year reach their highest point in at least six years –  and issues like the ongoing cost of living crisis mean animals need the RSPCA’s support to “survive, heal and thrive” now more than ever.

RSPCA superintendent Simon Osborne said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year for many pets, and we have seen a dramatic and heartbreaking rise in abandonments this year.

“And with Winter upon us, with plummeting temperatures and dark nights, we fear things could get even harder in the months to come.

“Sadly, animal abandonment has become so problematic and so tragically widespread, that we’ve seen more incidents every month this year when compared to 2024; and reports have been rising year after year.

“There’s an epidemic of animal abandonment and neglect, meaning our officers are needed now more than ever to respond to those animals in the most urgent need of help.”

The body of a dead dog was found inside a crate in a field in Lowestoft.

The sad and shocking discovery was made by a member of the public, who reported it to police.

The body was then taken to a vet before the RSPCA was notified.

The body of the dog was extremely decomposed but is thought to be a cream/white coloured young female small lurcher/whippet type. She was found in a field in the Church Road area on June 26.

The dog was found inside a crate with a blanket and a bowl – and she was wearing a blue rope as a collar.

The cause of death could not be ascertained due to how badly decomposed the body was. But it is thought the dog had been abandoned alive – given the bowl and blanket had been left inside the crate.

RSPCA Inspector Ben Kirby said: “No matter what the reason, abandoning an animal alone and in a situation like this is never okay. There is no guarantee that an abandoned animal will be found in time.”

And countless more animals need help.

Overall in 2024, 23,564  abandonment incidents were reported to the RSPCA – higher than in 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

And that “depressing” trend will continue in 2025 – with calls already higher than the whole of 2024, and spiking amid the challenging backdrop of the cost of living crisis, economic uncertainty and people’s increasingly busy lives.

Rising numbers of calls is placing added pressure on RSPCA officers on the frontline.

The Big Give Back to Animals is raising vital funds for the charity, helping them to bring more abandoned and neglected animals to safety, where they can be given urgent care and treatment.

Simon added: “Times are tough, right now – and animals are paying the price.

“Reports of abandonment are set to reach their highest mark in at least six years and the worst could be yet to come as we enter a grim Winter period.

“But animals are sentient; they feel joy, fear, love and pain, just like we do. They give us so much, and ask for so little.

“Sadly, without help, many animals will die this winter – scared, suffering, and unloved.

“Thankfully, there is hope – and I am so proud of the RSPCA’s efforts to help dumped pets survive, heal and thrive, and go onto a better life.

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

“But none of this work is possible without the kindness and generosity of our supporters.

“Every pound and penny people give goes towards creating a better world for every kind of animal.”

More information on the RSPCA’s ‘Big Give Back to Animals’can be found on the charity’s website.