Pet Dumping the Newest Trend?

sammy | PET NEWS | May 4, 2009

Pet Dumping – How do people sleep at night?

The RSPCA has reported that as many as thirty pets a day are being dumped by their owners to save money. The credit crunch has created a trickle down effect to our beloved pets and they state that the numbers of abandoned pets have recently increased by 60%!

Food and vet bills can be expensive as we know, and most people have cut back, but this is indefensible behaviour. When you take on an animal, you take it on for life. In extreme cases, owners are killing their pets rather than face the prospect of paying food and vets’ bills. What a sad thing for a family to feel they must do.

This is a huge problem for charity rescue organisations. Not only are they getting less money in donations, they are caring for more and more animals with less and less money, employee’s or volunteers. It’s a challenge for the centers, but it’s a crisis for the pets. An abandoned pet is left completely on its own to fend for itself and it has probably never needed to that before in its life. What a sad prospect for the pet. A death sentence!

The RSPCA dealt with 11,586 dumped animals in 2008 – an average of more than thirty every day. In 2007, 7,347 were abandoned. It represents a rise of fifty-seven per cent. The RSPCA predicts that this trend seems set to continue. Figures from the first two months of 2009 show a further 1,432 animals abandoned and the number of calls the charity has taken from those wanting to give up an animal has risen by fifty-two percent. Cats and dogs are the biggest victims.

Those found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal face a maximum six-month prison sentence and/or a £20,000 fine. The RSPCA says, “It is an offence to abandon any animal and there is never any excuse for doing so. If people have pets they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is always available from the RSPCA.” As well as many other organistions all over the UK

Please do not abandon your pet. If you are feeling the money squeeze, call a rescue centre and ask for help. You’ll be glad you did! You will find many rescue centre in our online directory here www.getsetpet-directory.co.uk

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