Emergency appeal from the RSPCA to keep saving animals in Lincolnshire

Animal rescuers at the charity have been designated key workers by the Government but vital funding is needed to keep them out on the road, continuing to rescue animals from the worst cruelty and neglect.

Although RSPCA centres have closed to the public, the charity continues to provide vital care to thousands of animals across England and Wales and even more are expected to come into its care in the coming weeks as its rescue teams bring in more animals in need.

Alongside this, the charity is also facing a huge financial strain as it is already seeing the damaging effect of this crisis on its fundraising income, while the costs of saving, treating and caring for animals continue.

Last year (2019), RSPCA rescuers dealt with 3,894 welfare incidents in Lincolnshire and they are continuing to save animals on the frontline through these difficult times.

The RSPCA national emergency appeal is being supported by comedian and animal lover Ricky Gervais.

He said: “It is really important for us all to pull together to help each other at this difficult time and someone needs to be there for animals, too.

“I would urge people to give whatever they can spare at this really difficult time to support the RSPCA so they can stay out on the frontline rescuing the animals who need them most.

“They are facing huge challenges through this crisis, but their amazing staff are committed to being there for animals in danger in any way they can and they can only do it with your help.”

The teams are continuing an emergency-only service through the lockdown period and the charity is currently caring for 3,288 animals across England and Wales.

Dermot Murphy, Head of the RSPCA Rescue Teams, said: “This is a time of national crisis, and many of us are anxious about the future and our loved ones. “This crisis has touched all areas of life and the RSPCA is no different.

“As we all face the biggest challenge of a generation, the RSPCA must continue to be on the frontline, rescuing and caring for the animals who need us most.

“Our rescuers, vets and nurses have been designated key workers by the Government which means we can carry on saving animals from cruelty and neglect but we rely entirely on generous public donations to fund our vital services.

“We are facing immense challenges and huge pressures on strained resources, but our hugely dedicated teams are out there dealing with emergencies and our centres continue to deliver vital care to thousands of animals, with more expected in the coming weeks.

“We know that this is a difficult time for everyone but we simply cannot turn our back on animals who are suffering and we are appealing for animal lovers to give whatever they can to help us.

Since the crisis deepened at the beginning of March, our animal cruelty line has received nearly 60,000 calls.

In Lincolnshire, officers received a call about a pregnant cat who had a plastic bracket from a gutter downpipe stuck around her neck.

The cat had managed to get underneath an industrial fridge in an outbuilding at a pub in Fosdyke, near Boston.

RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Justin Disdale said: “I’d already been to look for the cat once but couldn’t find her so went back to set a cat trap.

“I was just doing so when my colleague, who was looking around for her, noticed a pair of eyes peering at him from underneath an industrial fridge.

“The gap was only about four inches so we had to use a grasper to get her out but she was fine and was a whole lot happier once we’d got her free of the bracket she was wearing like a collar!”

The cat, who is feral, has now been taken to a private boarding establishment who will care for her on the RSPCA’s behalf until she has had her kittens.

Meanwhile in North Lincolnshire, officers received a call about an emaciated dog found in woodland in Scunthorpe.

he dog was found by a dog walker after their pet strayed from the path to a secluded area in Atkinsons Warren.

The blue/grey Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named Butch, was emaciated and had been left tied to a tree. His back legs were collapsing.

RSPCA inspector Dan Bradshaw said: “It’s shocking that somebody would deliberately abandon a dog clearly in poor health in an area so secluded there was a good chance he might not have been found.

“Butch was totally emaciated, he’s one of the thinnest dogs I have ever seen and his back legs were giving way because he was so skinny.

“When the vet examined Butch they found he was actually microchipped, which revealed he is 12 years old. Shockingly, it also showed that when he was first registered as a puppy, Butch weighed 25kg, however, as an adult dog in his current condition, he weighs just 15.5kg, which shows just how underweight he is. The vet believes there is no reason for this other than a lack of adequate nutrition.

“He’s very lucky that the dog walker came across him, he may not have survived much longer.”

Dan added: “Despite all of this, Butch is so friendly and loving, and I’m very pleased to say he’s now in the care of one of our private boarding kennels where he has a comfy warm bed to rest in and he’ll be fed gradually to build him back up to strength. They say he’s already doing much better.

“Anyone with information about who his owner is should call our inspector appeal line 0300 123 8018.”

To help the RSPCA keep rescuing animals like these and keep our animal hospitals and centres running for emergency treatment and round the clock care through these unprecedented times, donate here

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