RSPCA blasts growing number of Milton Keynes pet owners who 'treat animals as disposable'
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The city’s struggling RSPCA branch has published a rant to the growing number of local pet owners who are treating their animals as disposable and callously dumping them.
The MK and North Bucks branch, which is entirely self-funded and run by volunteers, is seeing the busiest January for years in terms of cats and small animals desperately needing its help.
As a result, it has published on social media a stern missive called ‘Responsible pet ownership – This needs to be said.’
And the message is – if you can’t afford to feed and care for yourself, do NOT get a pet.
The statement reads: “This January has already been devastating - far worse than previous years. We are receiving constant calls from vets, inspectors and the public about cats and small animals needing rescue space we simply do not have.
“Animals are being treated as disposable.2
It adds: “We are repeatedly seeing people surrender or abandon animals and then get more. Multi-animal households receive help and then take on more. People use food banks or apply for financial aid and then acquire more animals. These services exist to support responsible ownership, not to enable continued irresponsibility.
“There is no such thing as a free or cheap pet. Every animal costs money, time and lifelong commitment. Even feral colonies usually begin with one owned cat that was not neutered.”
In reality, the branch relies entirely upon public donations and funds from its charity shops in the city. Its facilities consist of nine cattery spaces, six isolation spaces and a small network of fosterers willing to give temporary spaces to animals in need.
“That is all we have for cats and small animals,” says the statement.
“For every animal we rehome, several more are being born. Unless owners take responsibility, this crisis will never improve. Rescues are not the cause, we are picking up the pieces while many are forced to close their doors under the strain.”
The branch believes the crisis situation stems directly from the COVID pet boom.
"It has set animal welfare back decades. Those of us in rescue have never seen pressure like this,” they state.
“We will continue to do everything we can - but the greatest responsibility lies with owners. They are the only ones who can change the bigger picture.”
The branch is urging people to think carefully before getting a pet and make plans to neuter the animal, plan for it financially and commit for life.
“Animals deserve better,” says the statement,
Responsible people can help by adopting an animal in need here or providing animal food or much-needed care items through the branch’s Amazon wish list here.
Last year was one of the busiest on record for the RSPCA nationally, with an abandonment incident reported to the RSPCA’s emergency line every nine minutes it was open.
Reports of animal abandonment are now set to reach their highest point in at least six years - and issues like the ongoing cost of living crisis mean animals need the RSPCA's support to "survive, heal and thrive" now more than ever.