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In Britain, crisis takes toll on pets

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-28 08:57

LONDON: Household pets have become the latest victim of the global slowdown in Britain, with the number abandoned rising by more than 50 percent in the past year, the country's main animal charity said on Monday.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) called for people to donate more time or money to help it support the thousands of extra animals across England and Wales that were dumped by their owners.

It said it dealt with 11,586 abandoned pets last year, a 57 percent increase over the 7,347 it supported in 2007. In the first two months of this year, the RSPCA said a further 1,432 animals were abandoned.

"It is a crisis out there for the animals," said Tim Wass, the RSPCA inspectorate's chief officer. "It is a challenging time for the RSPCA .. Now more than ever we need the public's support," he said, adding: "It's only because of the public's help that we're able to do what we can."

The RSPCA said that, coupled with the growing number of animals it is having to support, its financial position has worsened because of fewer donations and a decline in income from legacy gifts because of the property market fall.

AFP