Silliest calls taken by RSPCA
Cats behaving stubbornly, dogs that need training and birds sat where you don't want them. These are all problems – but not something the RSPCA can help with.
Following a surge in calls to its helpline this summer, the RSPCA feels it needs to clear up what is an urgent matter, and what has simply nothing to do with the charity.
As such, it has released a list of its most silly calls that have been keeping both its staff and phone lines unnecessarily busy:
- Someone who had just "seen" bigfoot
- Someone who wanted to know where to buy a bird noise CD from
- Someone who's car had broken down (RSPCA advised they should call the RAC)
- Someone who's husband wouldn't walk their dog
- Someone who's cat was ignoring calls to come into the house
- Someone who wanted their dog to be taught the green cross code
- Someone who said a bird was sat on a telegraph line
- Someone who was watching a 1972 film where an animal was attacked
RSPCA chief inspector Dermot Murphy said: "Summer has always seen surges in demand but, like many charities, we are facing a big rise in calls at a time when our resources are under most strain."
He added: "As much as we would like to help, we simply haven't got the staff to personally investigate each and every issue that the public brings to us, so we must prioritise to make sure we get to the animals most in need."
RSPCA says it has seen a 65 per cent rise in the number of calls to its 24-hour cruelty helpline since last January.
In order to reduce strain for the England and Wales frontline staff, the charity is asking callers to also use the "My RSPCA" section of the RSPCA website to report cases of cruelty, as well as using the website to find general information and advice.
It also advises people contact their local authority for stray dogs and call 999 for animals trapped in hot cars. Furthermore, if safe and practical, injured wildlife should be taken to a vet for free of charge treatment.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.
