Animal rescue stories
We’re called out to rescue all sorts of animals from all sorts of situations. Here are just some of our animal rescue stories.
Young cat rescued and rehomed
Looking forlorn and confused this poor kitten was found tiedup to a dog crate with a piece of old bailing twine and then left in Hasland, Derbyshire.
The kitten, who has been named Hope, was found by a member of the public about half a mile from our Chesterfield Animal Centre.
The twine was attached to her cat collar and then to a dog crate and could have caused her severe damage had she tried to escape. Hope, who was around 10 weeks old at the time, was taken to Chesterfield Animal Centre, and has since been rehomed.
Can you offer a rescued animal a new home?
The animals that we rescue from cruelty, neglect and abandonment often end up in our animal centres looking for new homes.
If you've got what it takes to offer a rescued animal a second chance in life, take a look at the animals in our pet search, you might find your perfect match.
Farm animals rescued from neglect and cruelty
We rescued 16 animals, which would usually be found on farmland, from the small garden of a ground floor flat in Torquay, Devon.
After receiving an urgent complaint, RSPCA Inspector Farr arrived at the property to discover the animals living in cramped and unsuitable conditions; without adequate shelter, food and clean water. Inspector Farr described the conditions in the garden as like a ‘sea of mud’.
A total of 14 chickens, one duck and two sheep were taken into our care and later rehomed. Sadly several other animals were unable to be saved.
We prosecuted the owner who was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to fulfil his duty to ensure the welfare of the animals. He was ordered to pay £500 costs and given a lifetime ban from keeping animals.
Our work with farm animals
More than 900 million farm animals are reared every year in the UK. We're working harder than ever before to try to improve the welfare of as many farm animals as possible, at every stage of their lives.
Bedraggled badger rescued from football net
This badger got himself in a bit of a tangle when he became trapped in a football net on the grounds of Henley-in-Arden High School in Warwickshire.
The young male badger was almost unrecognisable due to being so badly caked in mud from his efforts to free himself.
RSPCA Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Simon Dix managed to cut away most of the netting before transporting the badger to Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, where he had a much-needed shower.
The remaining netting was removed under anaesthetic. And after receiving medication and plenty of TLC, it wasn't long before the badger made a full recovery and was successfully released back into the wild.
Netting, such as goal nets, pose a real hazard to our wildlife and sadly we get too many calls about injured wild animals that are trapped in them. But incidents like this are easily preventable if the nets were only removed and safely stored after use.
Find out what to do if you find an injured wild animal.
Our work with wildlife
We're working to improve the welfare of wildlife and ensure that human activity does not cause unnecessary suffering.
Find out how we're helping wildlife, both in the wild and in captivity.