We are seeking homes for a large number of pigeons who were rescued after being found grounded in Cheshire and Staffordshire.

The wildlife centre has seen a surge in the numbers of pigeons arriving in the last couple of years, which could be down to a number of reasons. As well as people deliberately abandoning their birds when they no longer can afford to keep them, many of them are lost pets who have not been able to retrace their journeys home.

Some of the 18 pigeons at Stapeley Grange have been in the care of the RSPCA for 10 months.

The rehoming appeal comes as the RSPCA has revealed it is facing a rehoming crisis across England and Wales. New figures show that in 2023, 42% more animals arrived at the RSPCA than were adopted.

Wildlife Centre Manager Lee Stewart said: “Most of these pigeons have come from the Cheshire and Staffordshire area, and some from further afield. They were mostly grounded and exhausted and they were spotted by members of the public.

“They did not cope well with being left in the wild, so they have needed a bit of TLC to get them going again. They have received excellent care, but now we would love to find them new loving forever homes, as some of them have been with us for quite some time.”

Racing pigeons can travel very long distances and they will stop for breaks along their journey when they become tired. But they are susceptible to cats and other predators and some can get lost and are unable to fly back to their lofts.

Lee added: “We are always keen to find new homes for every domestic pigeon which comes through our doors, whether they be unwanted, neglected or unable to be reunited with their owner.

“It can be difficult finding new owners for birds like this as not many people have the facilities to house them. We are willing to transfer longer distances for the right loving forever home, up to 100 miles if we find the right homes. We’d urge anyone who is in a position to be able to help us to get in touch.”

New owners will need to have large aviaries and previous experience of caring for domestic pigeons, as well as the necessary time and resources. Anyone interested in adopting any of the pigeons should contact Stapeley Grange on 0300 123 0722 or email stapeley@rspca.org.uk

The RSPCA advises members of the public finding injured adult pigeons to check first on their health before deciding to take them to a local vet or wildlife rehabilitator. If the pigeons are non-domestic they could be carrying diseases, so it is important to wear gloves when handling the birds.

You can report lost racing pigeons to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA) as they can try and reunite them with their owners. If they are show pigeons their owners can potentially be traced by contacting the National Pigeon Association