Report cruelty or neglect

We receive a call for help approximately every 30 seconds. We have to prioritise cases of cruelty and neglect where our specialist skills are required. Help us prioritise these calls to help more animals by following the steps below.

Report cruelty or neglect

Help injured wildlife

Get animal advice

What type of animal would you like advice about?

Pet

A companion animal, like a cat or dog.

Wildlife

An animal that isn't normally domesticated, like a fox or hedgehog.

Farm animal

An animal reared for produce, like a cow or chicken.

Pet advice

Whether you’re looking for advice for your own pet, considering getting a pet, or want to learn more about companion animals, our expert advice will help.

How big is the injured animal?

Small

An animal the same size as, or smaller than, a pigeon or rabbit.

Large

An animal larger than a pigeon or rabbit.

Which animal are you contacting us about today?

Black garden bird on the ground outside

Small bird

A hedgehog resting in straw

Hedgehog

Wild rabbit exploring their warren

Rabbit / hare

a woodmouse being released back into the wild

Rat / mouse

A common frog sitting on wooden decking in a garden.

Frog / toad

Grey squirrel on a branch of a tree.

Squirrel

Brown Long-eared Bat recovering at an animal centre

Bat

What to do if you’ve found an injured small bird

  • Sick or injured bird

    Because bird flu is still affecting many birds across the UK, it’s very important to take precautions to keep yourself safe as it can affect humans too. If you do find a sick or injured bird, please call us us on 0300 123 8967.

  • Baby bird

    It's quite common to see a baby bird out of the nest as they are learning to fly and usually they don't need rescuing. If you find a baby bird, keep your pets away and follow our detailed advice on what to do.

  • Trapped bird

    Trapped in a building

    It's not unusual for birds to sometimes enter a house or shed. They will normally leave pretty quickly if you follow a few simple steps such as opening external doors and windows and turning off the lights. If you suspect a bird is living or nesting in your property please contact Environmental Health at your local council. Alternatively you can wait until the bird and its young have left and then block up any holes they have been using to access the building.

    Trapped in a chimney

    If it is a gas fire, contact a registered Gas Safe engineer to disconnect the gas supply before any rescue can be attempted. Once the gas supply has been disconnected, open external doors and windows, making sure you pull any curtains out of the way. You can also place a torch at the bottom of the chimney (facing down towards the floor) to help coax the bird towards the light. You should then leave the room quiet and empty. This may take some time, so leave the room undisturbed for a few hours. Remember that some birds will have multiple broods in the same year, so the nest may still be in use even if you've seen birds leaving it recently.

    Entangled

    If a bird is entangled, for example in netting, and cannot free itself or you can’t safely help it to get free, please call us on 0300 123 8967.

What to do if you’ve found an injured hedgehog

  • Sick or injured hedgehog

    Although hedgehogs are nocturnal, they are sometimes seen during the day. This in itself doesn’t mean that the hedgehog needs help. A hedgehog is likely sick or injured if:

    • There is obvious sign of injury (like an open wound, or burnt or damaged spines)
    • It doesn't seem interested in the food you've put out
    • The hedgehog is staggering, wobbly, walking around in circles or lethargic
    • You can see a large number of flies or ticks on the hedgehog
    • You can see any maggots or fly eggs on the hedgehog
    • The hedgehog does not roll up or try to roll up when you approach or touch it

    You should also help hedgehogs if:

    • The weather is cold - regular ground frost, snow, or temperatures are at or below freezing for several days
    • It weighs less than 300g (about the size of an apple)
    • It is in immediate danger, for example on a road

    If you find a hedgehog like this, use our detailed advice to handle the hedgehog and transport it to a vet or wildlife rehabilitator.

  • Baby hedgehog

    If you find a baby hedgehog on their own it’s usually best to leave them alone as their parent is probably close by. If you monitor the animal and a parent is not close by, the best way to help the young hedgehog will depend on how much it weighs and the time of year. Read our detailed advice.

  • Trapped hedgehog

    If a hedgehog is trapped and can’t free itself, or you can’t safely help it to get free, for example if it’s trapped down a drain or entangled in netting, please call us on 0300 123 8967.

What to do if you’ve found an injured rabbit or hare

  • Sick or injured rabbit / hare

    Myxomatosis is a very infectious disease which is widespread in wild rabbits. Symptoms include:

    • Lumps on the head and body
    • Swelling around the lips, nose, eyes and ears and their back end
    • Runny eyes
    • Pus coming from the nose and eyes

    If you find a wild rabbit or hare that you think might be diseased, or have another illness or injury, the best thing to do is take it to a vet or rehabilitator as soon as possible. Read our detailed advice on how to do this.

  • Baby rabbit / hare

    It’s normal for baby hares to be left alone for long periods of time, even when they’re very young. Their mother will usually come back around dusk to feed them. However, baby rabbits will stay in their burrow until they’re about three weeks old, so if you see them above ground before this age then they will need help.

    If any of these apply, the baby rabbit or hare will need to be rescued straight away:

    • They’re injured
    • They’ve been caught by a dog or cat
    • They are covered with flies’ eggs (these look like small grains of rice)
    • Their eyes are closed, or they’re not covered in fur. This will be a baby rabbit that’s been dug out of the warren, so check for any other baby rabbits nearby
    • You can see their mother is dead nearby. A mother rabbit or hare will have bald patches on her chest where the babies feed

    If these apply, use our detailed advice to handle the rabbit/hare and transport it to a wildlife rehabilitator.

  • Trapped rabbit / hare

    If a rabbit or hare is trapped or entangled, for example in netting, and cannot free itself or you can’t safely help it to get free, please call us on 0300 123 8967.

What to do if you’ve found an injured rat or mouse

  • Sick or injured rat / mouse

    If you find a sick or injured rat or mouse, follow our detailed advice on how to handle and transport small wild rodents to a wildlife rehabilitator or vet.

    Please don’t try to look after them yourself - wild rodents have very different needs to pet rats and mice, and they need specialist care to give them the best chance of release back into the wild.

  • Baby rat / mouse

    If you find a baby rat or mouse that is moving around, has fur covering its body and its eyes are open, the best thing to do is leave it alone. You might find a single baby mouse that’s been dropped by its mother, because they move their young to a different nest if they’ve been disturbed. Keep away and monitor the baby, as the mother should come back to pick it up within a few hours.

    If any of the following apply, the baby needs rescuing as it may be orphaned:

    • The baby rodent has no fur or its eyes are closed, and it’s out of the nest
    • You can see the dead parents nearby
    • The parents haven’t returned to the nest after two hours of monitoring

    If these apply, follow our detailed advice on how to handle and transport small wild rodents to a wildlife rehabilitator or vet.

  • Trapped rat / mouse

    Trapped in a building

    It's not unusual for rats and mice to enter a house or shed (and they are sometimes brought in by pet cats). If the animal doesn’t seem injured and is moving around, you can help it find a way out of your house on its own. You can do this by leaving open doors to create a route straight outside, and shutting all other doors. Keep any pets well away when you do this. You could also try using a live-capture trap baited with food, but make sure you check the trap every two hours so the rodent isn’t left in there for too long.

    Trapped and can’t escape

    If a rat or mouse is trapped and cannot free itself, or you can’t safely help it to get free, for example if it is stuck in a trap, please call us on 0300 123 8967.

What to do if you’ve found an injured frog or toad

  • Sick or injured frog or toad

    If you find a sick or injured frog or toad, visit the Froglife website for more advice about how to help them. It can be difficult to treat amphibians, so sometimes it’s best to leave them in the garden to recover on their own.

    If the animal is seriously sick or injured, then the quickest way to get them help will be to contact a vet or rehabilitator. Read our detailed advice on how to handle and transport them.

  • Trapped frog or toad

    If a frog or toad is entangled, for example in netting, and cannot free itself or you can’t safely help it to get free, please call us on 0300 123 8967.

What to do if you’ve found an injured squirrel

  • Sick or injured squirrel

    Unfortunately it is illegal to rehabilitate and release grey squirrels as they are an invasive species, so please only remove them if they are suffering. If you find an injured or sick grey squirrel who you feel is suffering, please take them to your local vet, who can put them to sleep humanely.

    The law doesn’t affect red squirrels, so it is still legal to rehabilitate and release red squirrel infants. If the red squirrel is injured or orphaned, please contact a local wildlife rehabilitator or vet.

  • Baby squirrel

    If you find a baby squirrel, the best thing to do is to keep it where you found it, keep pets away and follow these tips:

    • Check the area for any other siblings which may also need help.
    • The baby should cry which will encourage the mother to collect her infant. You can also play squirrel baby distress noises (available online).
    • If a baby squirrel or their nest has fallen to the ground, put them back in the tree for the mother to collect. The safest way to do this is to use a basket or pot you can put the nest in and hang or place in the tree.
    • If the nest hasn't fallen with the squirrel you can find leaves and small twigs to keep in the basket with the squirrels. Using a basket and securely placing it in the tree will be the best way to protect the baby squirrels from predators.
    • Don't give a baby squirrel food or water, as this can do more harm than good.

    Read our detailed advice on what to do if you find a baby squirrel.

  • Trapped squirrel

    Trapped in a building

    If squirrels enter a house or shed they will normally leave pretty quickly if you follow a few simple steps such as open external doors and windows, turn off the lights and put strong smelling food at exit points.

    If you suspect a squirrel is living or nesting in your property please contact Environmental Health at your local council. Alternatively you can wait until the squirrel and its young have left and then block up any holes they have been using to access the building.

    Trapped in a chimney

    If it is a gas fire, contact a registered Gas Safe engineer to disconnect the gas supply before any rescue can be attempted. Once the gas supply has been disconnected, open external doors and windows, making sure you pull any curtains out of the way. You can also place a torch at the bottom of the chimney (facing down towards the floor) to help coax the squirrel towards the light. You should then leave the room quiet and empty. This may take some time, so leave the room undisturbed for a few hours.

    Entangled

    If a squirrel is entangled, for example in netting, and cannot free itself or you can’t safely help it to get free, please call us on 0300 123 8967.

What to do if you’ve found an injured bat

  • Sick or injured bat

    Bats need highly specialised care, so please don’t try to look after a sick or injured bat yourself. Instead, contact the Bat Conservation Trust on their website or by calling their helpline on 0345 1300 228. They will tell you how you can help the bat, and how to handle and transport a bat safely.

  • Baby bat

    Young bats will need specialist care if they are orphaned, so contact the Bat Conservation Trust who can put you in touch with your local bat carer for more advice.

  • Trapped bat

    Trapped in a building

    If a bat is trapped in your house and it’s night time, keep the room calm and quiet. Close doors to contain the bat in one room, then open all the windows as widely as you can. Move anything that might block the bat’s way out the window, such as the curtains. Finally, dim the lights and the bat should make its own way out of the room. Remember to check that the bat has left and isn't hiding behind furniture or curtains.

    If the bat isn’t flying, or it’s during the day, contact the Bat Conservation Trust on 0345 1300 228 for help.

Are you reporting any of the following scenarios?

Wildlife in the road

An animal is in the road and I am concerned about it.

Crash landed swan

A swan has fallen from a height and is sitting on the ground.

Dead bird

I have found a bird that is dead.

Whale, dolphin or porpoise on the beach

I can see a whale, dolphin or porpoise on land.

A dead whale, dolphin or porpoise

I have found a dead whale, dolphin or porpoise.

Baby bird

I have found a baby bird out of a nest (with or without feathers).

Animal trapped in a building

A wild animal is trapped in a building or outhouse.

What to do if you see wildlife in the road

If there is a healthy animal on a motorway or major 'A' road in England or Wales please call the Highways England (0300 123 5000) or Traffic Wales (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 (101) so they can decide on the actions necessary to ensure the safety of road users and the animal.

If an animal is in the road and injured, please call us on 0300 1234 999.

What to do if you see a crash landed swan

If you find an injured swan, or see a swan crash land, please contact us on 0300 1234 999.

If you find a healthy swan on a road please ring the police on 101. This is to help avoid the situation from becoming dangerous for both the animal and other road users.

Don't try to rescue, handle or transport swans yourself, as they can be aggressive to people when stressed or injured.

What to do if you see a dead bird

If the dead bird is pigeon-sized or smaller, please report it to the Garden Wildlife Health Project.

If the dead bird is larger than a pigeon, please report it to DEFRA.

What to do if you see a whale, dolphin or porpoise on the beach

If you find a whale, dolphin or porpoise on a beach, keep a safe distance and don't touch them. Ring the British Marine Divers Rescue on 01825 765546.

What to do if you see a dead whale, dolphin or porpoise

Ring the Strandings Hotline on 0800 652 0333.

What to do if you find a baby bird out of a nest

It's quite common to see a baby bird out of the nest as they are learning to fly and usually they don't need rescuing. If you find a baby bird, keep your pets away and follow our detailed advice on what to do.

What to do if you find an animal trapped in a building

It's not unusual for a wild animal such as a bird or a fox to sometimes enter a house or shed and they will normally leave pretty quickly if you follow a few simple steps such as open external doors and windows, turn off the lights and put strong smelling food at exit points (for example, sausage meat to attract foxes).

If you suspect a squirrel or bird is living or nesting in your property please contact Environmental Health at your local council.

Alternatively you can wait until the animal and its young have left and then block up any holes they have been using to access the building.

Before reporting

Use this to contact us about:

Cruelty

An animal suffering as a result of a deliberate human act e.g. being beaten, or repeatedly subjected to a fearful situation.

Neglect

An animal suffering because their needs are not being met e.g. not being fed, kept in a small cage all day. Neglect can be unintentional

Are you reporting any of the following scenarios?

Dog in a hot car

A dog trapped in a hot car where there appears to be no owner.

Stray dog

A dog that is loose on the street, and you can see no owner.

Stray cat

A cat that is loose on the street, and you can see no owner.

Barking dog

A dog that is barking loudly and for a long time.

Dog kept outdoors

A dog that you can see that is being kept outside.

Tethered horse

A horse that is tied up, for example to a fence.

What to do if you see a dog in a hot car

If the dog doesn't seem in distress, you can leave them in the car and follow these actions:

  • Work out how long the dog has been in the car. A 'pay and display' ticket could help.
  • Make a note of the car's registration. If the owner returns but you still feel they'd put the dog in danger, you can tell the police.
  • If you're at a shop, venue or event, ask staff to alert the owner over the loudspeaker.
  • Make sure you, or someone else, stays with the dog. Monitor their condition.

If the dog is in distress

It is important that you ring the police if the dog is in distress.

Call the police on 999 now

What to do if you see a stray 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.

Check out our top tips on what to do if you've found a lost, stray or abandoned dog.

What to do if you see a stray 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, how to help stray cats.

What to do if you see or hear a barking dog

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.

What to do if you see a 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. Find out more about dogs being kept outside.

What to do if you see a tethered horse

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). Find out more about tethering horses.

If you're concerned about a tethered horse who does not appear to have access to food or drink and/or looks in poor condition please ring 0300 1234 999.

If none of these cases apply

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When to report an animal to us

Report any animal to us which you suspect is suffering from cruelty or neglect, or an animal which is sick, injured or trapped and it is not safe or suitable for a member of the public to assist. 

Animal welfare is our absolute priority. We ask the public to take action to help small sick or injured wild animals themselves, rather than waiting for an RSPCA officer, because this is the quickest way for thousands of wild animals to get the urgent help they need. And every time a wild animal is helped by the public it frees up our vital specialist rescuers to reach animals suffering from cruelty and neglect.

What is animal cruelty and neglect?

Animal cruelty is where an animal is suffering as a result of a deliberate human act, for example being beaten or repeatedly subjected to a fearful situation.

Neglect is where an animal is suffering because their needs are not being met, for example not being fed, not being provided with vet treatment or being kept in a small cage all day. Neglect can be unintentional.

  • Information needed to report cruelty or neglect

    Before you phone us to report cruelty or neglect, take a note of the following so that you're prepared with the information we need to assess and prioritise the incident.

    • Your name, address and telephone number for our records. Don't worry, we'll treat your personal information in confidence and it will not be shared with anybody else unless we are authorised to do so by law. For more information, please see our privacy policy.
    • The date, time and location/address of the incident. You can also use what3words to let us know the location - this app is free to download for both iOS and Android devices, and also works offline. what3words can also be used via the online map at what3words.com.
    • A description of the animal's environment and bodily condition. This will help us to assess the situation and the animal's welfare.
    • If known, the name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) involved.
    • The names and addresses of any witnesses.
    • The registration number and description of any vehicle involved.
  • What happens when you report cruelty or neglect?

    We prioritise all calls about cruelty, neglect or injured animals according to their severity and urgency. 

    Depending on this prioritisation, we may send an Inspector or Animal Rescue Officer to the incident. We also work with specialist partner charities to attend some incidents.

    Sometimes the best thing to help an animal quickly is for us to refer incidents to other specialist organisations or to help the public to help animals themselves. 

  • How to report cruelty or neglect if you're deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired

    Download the Relay UK app for help contacting us if you're deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech-impaired.

    Download the app onto your smartphone, tablet, or computer from:

  • Information for vets reporting concerns

    The principal responsibility of a veterinary surgeon is to protect the health and welfare of the animals under their care. If there are concerns the owner or keeper of the animal is harming them or is likely to do so, either deliberately or by neglect, then the vet should always consider the animal's welfare first, being sure to take due consideration of other professional responsibilities.

    Please note that this advice is produced by the RSPCA and applies to England and Wales. The same RCVS rules apply to vets Scotland but the animal welfare laws are different and you should consult the SSPCA for advice if required.

  • How RSPCA investigations work

    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.