HUNDREDS of animals were abandoned in Cheshire over a three-month period last year, with pets often dumped in boxes, thrown in bins or left of the side of roads.
Throughout June, July and August last year, the RSPCA received 23,673 calls about dumped animals, which equates to one call every six minutes.
This is an increase of at least 85 per cent on the number of animals reported abandoned during the colder months.
Dermot Murphy, RSPCA’S Chief Inspectorate Officer, said: “Sadly, we see a dramatic increase in the number of animals abandoned in the summer. From unwanted newborn kittens and puppies dumped in boxes and bins, exotic pets cast aside or horses abandoned in someone else’s field, dumped like rubbish.
“There is never an excuse to abandon an animal in this way and we would urge anyone who is struggling to cope with their pets to contact us or other charities for help. Our pets are sentient beings and great companions who rely on us for their health and happiness so dumping them like an old mobile phone or a piece of rubbish should never be the answer.
“The peak in animals being abandoned in the summer puts a massive strain on our inspectors, animal centres and branches who are left picking up the pieces when an animal is dumped.”
Figures released by the RSPCA show the numbers of abandoned animals during summer 2018 for each area in the north of England.
The figures show that 366 animals were dumped in Cheshire during that period – which equates to four pets a day being abandoned in the county.
West Yorkshire had the largest number of abandoned animals, with 930 being left.
Rolo the Belgian Malinois and Rottweiler cross puppy who was dumped in Sunderland last June and has now found his forever home.
It is not clear why the figures rise so dramatically in the warmer months but the RSPCA says it may be that abandoned animals are more visible when people are out and about, that people feel less guilty about leaving them alone when the weather is warmer or even that some people dump their pets when they go away on holiday and have nowhere for them to go.
It costs the RSPCA nearly £30,000 to run an animal centre, providing vet care, food, toys and comfort to needy animals, every month. To help the RSPCA continue to rescue animals like Rolo and Mia please visit rspca.org.uk/summercrisis
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