Your local RSPCA
Report cruelty
Report cruelty or an animal in distress
Before calling us please check this information:
Baby or fledgling birds
Baby birds are often better off being left alone. Please don't touch a baby bird unless you are sure it genuinely needs help. Our advice on fledglings and nestlings gives guidance on how to decide if it does.
Stray or abandoned dog
Our limited number of officers mean we can only attend when a stray animal is in imminent danger, such as serious injury or illness.
Stray dogs are the responsibility of local authorities, who must provide a dog warden service.
Report a stray dog to your local authority.
Check out our top tips on what to do if you've found a lost, stray or abandoned dog,
Stray or abandoned cat
Our limited number of officers mean we can only attend when a stray animal is in imminent danger, such as serious injury or illness.
Stray cats can be hard to identify, they can often be owned or living as a feral. We don't collect healthy stray cats and ask instead that you read our advice:
Barking dogs
Dogs bark for many reasons and may not necessarily be in distress. In the first instance, please contact your local authority and make a noise complaint. They will contact us if they have further welfare concerns.
Report a barking dog to your local authority
Separation-related behaviour
It's possible the owner isn't aware that their dog is barking while they're away. Please let the neighbour know what's going on while they're out. They might find this guide helpful:
Dog kept outdoors
While we don't necessarily agree with dogs being kept outside, it's not illegal to do so. However, the outdoors environment does need to be suitable for a dog to live in. As a charity with no legal powers, we don't have the authority to seize animals who are kept outdoors, as much as we may disagree on a personal level with how they may be kept. We will however do everything we can to help, such as talk with the owner and make actionable suggestions.
Tethered horses
Tethering compromises a horse's well-being and is not a practice we recommend, however tethering itself is not illegal in the UK. Our officers must work within the law, so we cannot send them out to tethered horses unless the horse's welfare is affected (e.g. an injury caused by improper tethering equipment).
Injured wildlife
Injured wildlife often needs help quickly and our officers are limited in number.
If the animal is a wild bird or mammal smaller than the size of a rabbit, the quickest way to get help is to contact a local vet or rehabilitation centre as they will not usually charge for treating wildlife.
Find your local wildlife rehabilitation centre
Please note that in the winter months, avian flu may be a problem, so please check our avian flu advice before taking any action.
Animal in the road
Healthy animal in the road
If there is a healthy animal on a motorway or major 'A' road in England or Wales please call the Highways Agency (for England) on 0300 123 5000 or Traffic Wales on 0845 602 6020 so arrangements can be made for the animal to be removed.
Any healthy stray animals found on minor roads in England and Wales should be reported to the police so they can decide on the actions necessary to ensure the safety of road users and the animal.
In the case of a stray dog on the road, we suggest you also call your local council's dog warden service as they are legally responsible for stray dogs.
Injured animal in the road
We can only attend an animal that is highly likely to be at the scene once we arrive. If there is an injured domestic animal on the road and it is still mobile and in and out of traffic, please contact the local police on 101.
If the animal is badly injured, please call our cruelty line on 0300 1234 999
Dead animal in the road
If there are no suspicious circumstances and the animal is found on a motorway or major 'A' road in England or Wales please call the Highways Agency (for England) on 0300 123 5000 or Traffic Wales on 0845 602 6020 so arrangements can be made for the animal to be removed.
For any minor or side roads then local councils are obliged to pick up dead animals but please note this does not include private or residential property.
Please only call if an animal is in urgent need
We're asking you to avoid calling unless you have a genuine animal welfare emergency that may require a visit from one of our officers.
A genuine animal welfare emergency is one where an animal that is sick, injured or trapped and it is not safe or suitable for a member of public to assist. Or where an animal is in a situation that results in risk to life or imminent danger of it being harmed.
We receive a call for help approximately every 30 seconds. Some situations that may appear distressing are not against the law. In their daily work our inspectors have to prioritise cases where the law is actually being broken.
Call opening hours
Call our cruelty line only to report cruelty, neglect or an animal in distress on 0300 1234 999 between the hours of 8am to 8pm. The call will cost the same as any call to a UK landline number.
Please note, during busier periods your call may be placed in a queue. You'll be asked a variety of questions to ensure that your call is prioritised according to its urgency and to ensure there is enough information for us to investigate. Please read our reporting cruelty checklist for further information.
Help us find you with what3words
what3words is an easy way to identify precise locations. It has divided the world into a grid of 3 metre squares and given each square a unique combination of three random words: a what3words address. For example, ///chemistry.cloth.woke points to the precise entrance of Brighton Palace Pier.
The what3words app is free to download for both iOS and Android devices, and works offline, making it ideal for use in areas with an unreliable data connection. what3words can also be used via the online map at what3words.com. It's an easy way to find, share, save and navigate to any location, anywhere in the world.
What happens next?
We prioritise all calls about cruelty, neglect or injured animals according to their severity and urgency.
Due to the high volume of calls we receive and our limited resources we aren't always able to respond in the way that would be ideal or as quickly as the emergency services can with more resources. Please be patient. If you're concerned the situation is worsening, please contact us again.
Investigations
If an alleged offence has been committed, our officers will carry out a full and thorough investigation. Read our frequently asked questions about investigations to find out more about how this process works.
-
Animal in distress
