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Rise in pet neglect as more owners face financial hardship
RSPCA's emergency line took approximately one call every four minutes in the first half of 2024.

RSPCA reports frightening statistic of one call every four minutes.

New figures released by animal charity RSPCA show the number of animal neglect reports during the first half of 2024 rose by 25 per cent – a problem expected to worsen as people grapple with increased costs associated with Christmas.

There has been a 25 per cent year-on-year increase, with the charity recording 48,814 incidents of cruelty and neglect between January and September 2024, compared to 38,977 during the same period in 2023.

During this time, the emergency line was open 3,276 hours, meaning it took an average of 15 reported incidents of neglect every single hour - or approximately one every four minutes. 

RSPCA superintendent Jo Hirst said: “The large 25 per cent increase in the number of pet neglect calls we are taking is a major concern during our busy winter period when many people are facing more financial difficulties, and we fear this upsetting trend will continue.

“One call every four minutes is a frightening statistic. Coupled with this, we have also seen a startling increase in abandonment cases, up 30 per cent in just three years. Sadly, we expect the crisis to worsen as more people tend to struggle with increased costs around Christmas time with presents to buy and extra food shopping - along with energy bills.”

The figures form part of the RSPCA's  'Join the Christmas Rescue' campaign, which aims to raise awareness and funds to help animals suffering from neglect and cruelty, especially during the festive season.

The campaign calls on members of the public to donate, ensuring that rescuers, veterinary teams, branches, and centre staff can continue their vital work even on Christmas Day. 

Image (C) RSPCA.

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FIVP Practice Matters podcast returns for Series 2

News Story 1
 The Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices (FIVP) has announced that its podcast, FIVP Practice Matters, will be returning for a second series next year.

The bi-weekly podcast will return on Tuesday, 14 January 2025 with an episode on sustainability with Alison Lambert. The second series will include a range of new and familiar guests sharing veterinary initiatives and news from independent practices.

The podcast is available on Spotify and will now also be released on Apple Podcasts. More details about FIVP and the podcast can be found on its website

Click here for more...
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Further cases of H5N1 confirmed in Norfolk

APHA has officially confirmed that two more cases of H5N1 have been found on premises in Norfolk.

Testing confirmed that highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was present at premises near Attleborough, as well as premises near Hingham in South Norfolk. The case near Hingham follows a slaughter on suspicion which was declared on 23 December.

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been implemented at each premises, and all the poultry on each premises will be humanely culled.

A third case has also been identified near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire.

APHA is reminding bird keepers to remain vigilant and follow biosecurity measures to prevent more outbreaks. Details on the current disease control zones and biosecurity guidance can be found on the APHA website.