RSPCA key workers have responded to 100,000 incidents during lockdown – including more than 2,000 in Cheshire.
The animal welfare charity’s frontline officers, animal carers and vets have rescued, treated and cared for animals in need since the country went into lockdown on March 23.
Between March 24 and August 5, the RSPCA responded to 2,069 incidents across Cheshire – an average of 15 a day.
RSPCA animal rescuers were designated key workers by the Government at the beginning of lockdown but the global pandemic has had a huge impact on the charity’s finances.
Now vital funding is needed to help the organisation continue its work rescuing animals and caring for the 6,381 animals in its care across England and Wales.
RSPCA officers have also been collecting animals from people who have been admitted to hospital with Covid-19, who may not have anyone else to care for them.
The charity’s staff were quickly designated as key workers so they could continue to respond to emergencies and rescue animals from cruelty and neglect.
Dermot Murphy, Chief Inspectorate Officer, said: “We’ve had to quickly and drastically change the way we work during these unprecedented times, from the way we rehome animals to the PPE we wear when responding to calls.
“But the priority for us during lockdown has been to continue to be there for those animals who need us – while also helping people who have been hit hard by the pandemic.
“Now, more than four months into lockdown, we’ve passed a milestone as we responded to our 100,000th incident.
“And our staff are as busy as ever collecting abandoned animals, investigating complaints of cruelty, providing life-saving veterinary treatment to the sick and injured, and finding wonderful new homes for our residents.
“But to continue our vital work and to survive the huge impact this pandemic has had on the economy and, therefore, the charity sector, we really need your help.
“Please donate whatever you can spare at www.rspca.org.uk/covid.”
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