RSPCA receives more than 50 reports of abandoned animals in Hampshire since start of lockdown
MORE than 50 reports of abandoned animals in Hampshire have been reported to the RSPCA since lockdown started.
The RSPCA has received more than 1,600 reports of abandoned animals across England and Wales since lockdown began on March 23.
In Hampshire, there have been reports about 52 abandoned animals to the charity’s cruelty hotline.
Dermot Murphy, head of the RSPCA rescue teams, said: ‘Although much of the country is on lockdown, sadly there are still thousands of animals who need our help, including abandoned pets.
‘Many people are finding their pets are a real source of comfort in these anxious times and thankfully cases of abandonment are slightly lower than usual but it’s heartbreaking that some animals are being dumped during this crisis.
‘In most cases we don’t know why pets are abandoned but it’s really important to remind people that there is no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 can be passed from pets to people.
‘There is lots of help and support out there for anyone else struggling to get animal food, with health or behavioural issues, exercising their pets or managing to keep children safe around pets.’
Since the government introduced the lockdown measures, the RSPCA has responded to more than 27,000 incidents and the number of animals being cared for by the animal charity at centres, hospitals and vet surgeries has also grown by hundreds.
People who want to help the RSPCA and keep hospitals and centres running for emergency treatment and round-the-clock care can donate at rspca.org.uk/covid.