Who could see that happy little face and not want to take four-year-old lurcher, Blue, home?

It turns out, over 3,000 could, as that’s how many people have rejected him at the shelter he currently lives at.

Dubbed Britain’s unluckiest dog, Blue has now spent over 300 days at his RSPCA kennel in Suffolk.

He had originally been given up in May this year as his owners couldn’t look after him.

Although he was rehomed six months later, Blue returned not long after as his new owners also felt they couldn’t handle him.

Since then, he’s seen 49 kennel-mates taken to their fur-ever homes before him, and only one person has shown an interest in adopting him since November last year (and this unfortunately fell through).

Far from being a problem pup, kennel staff say that Blue is the one they all go to for cuddles and that he is a ‘real favourite’ among those who work there.

Branch manager Zoe Barrett even took special photos of poor Blue and made them the cover photo for the RSPCA Martlesham Animal Centre Facebook page.

As well as that, contacted local media and asked other animal shelters to get involved, but it seems like the little lurcher just can’t catch a break.

Blue, like many dogs of his breed, has a high chase drive, so will need an owner who has a big, enclosed garden.

He’s picked up some commands and is muzzle-trained, but needs to be the only dog in the house.

Oh, and his favourite food is Primula cheese, so you’ll need plenty of that to keep him happy.

Barrett says, ‘We absolutely adore him and just want to see him settle into a long term home…

‘He is a gorgeous dog I know there will be someone out there for him, there always is, but we just need that special person to come forward.’

Do you think you could be that special person for Blue? Check out his adoption page here.

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It’s not unusual for animals to wind up in places they’re not meant to be.

But for one poor sheep and her mother, a dip in a dried up pond nearly ended in disaster after the pair found themselves stuck in the mud.

In an image shared by RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes, one sheep can barely been seen among the thick sludge on the ground in Cheshire.

The animal was so hard to spot that The Dog Rescuers star even played a game with his Twitter followers asking if they could see the animal.

But he soon reassured everyone that the sheep had been saved by sharing a series of pictures of the rescue in action.

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In one image, the Merseyside inspector could be seen squatting on the grass with the mud-caked sheep across his lap – and thick black sludge up to his elbows.

‘Just been called to rescue this little beauty and her mum from a muddy dried up pond in #Cheshire really tough work but well worth it to get them out,’ he wrote.

‘They’re both exhausted & back at farm house recovering  @RSPCA_official’.

The tweet was met with applause from other Twitter users, who thanked Mr Joynes for his service.

‘Oh my goodness I couldn’t even see at first what we were looking at,’ one person gushed.

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‘Once again, over and over thank goodness for our @RSPCA_official.’

While another wrote: ‘Wow, super dangerous for them. They were so lucky. Thank you, man.’

This is not the first time an animal needed rescuing from a precarious place.

Just last week, a firefighter was forced to climb onto the roof of a house in Edmonton, North London, to salvage a wayward parrot.

But despite clambering on top of the building, the adventurous bird did not appear to be grateful, instead repeatedly telling him to ‘f**k off’.

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While in Maida Vale, a mischievous dog got into trouble after wandering out of the window and onto a ledge, two floors above the ground.

The Jack Russell, named Max, couldn’t turn around and also had to be rescued by the London Fire Brigade.

A man has been jailed for starving his dog to death, stuffing its emaciated body in a suitcase and dumping it in a cemetery.

Mason Medford was picked up by police today after going on the run last week when he was due to appear in court.

In his absence, he was found guilty of two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a Staffordshire bull terrier called Leo.

When police found Medford today, they took him straight to Leeds Magistrates’ Court, where he was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison and disqualified from keeping animals for life.

The court heard Leo had been purchased for £100 by a couple Medford was friends with.

But Leo didn’t get on with their other dog, so they asked Medford if he would take Leo after the original seller refused to take him back.

Medford took Leo to his home in Leeds on November 26, with a 25kg sack of dog food a friend had given him.

He later told police, after handing himself in, that Leo growled at him and acted aggressively so he left him in the house.

The RSPCA discovered Leo in a suitcase under some shrubs at Harehills Cemetery in Leeds on January 24.

A vet found Leo had suffered for at least four weeks before eventually suffering multiple organ failure.

RSPCA inspector Sarah Mason said: ‘This was a really shocking incident to deal with and I’m glad that the court viewed it so seriously.

‘Leo’s emaciated body had been crammed into a black suitcase, wrapped in a towel.

‘When vets weighed him he was just 11.6kg, he was literally a skeleton of a dog.

‘The collar he had around his neck, which presumably fit at some time, was just hanging off him.

‘The suffering Leo endured before he died must have been enormous.’

Inspector Mason added: ‘He literally abandoned this dog to die.

‘He shut him in a room with no food or water and didn’t come back until he was dead.

‘Veterinary evidence found that he had suffered for a minimum of four weeks, eventually suffering multiple organ failure.

‘The house was disgusting, there was faeces and urine everywhere, and splatters of blood. What Leo went through during that time doesn’t bear thinking about.’

A dog is recovering after it was apparently used in badger baiting.

Snickers, a Patterdale terrier bitch, was found with injuries to her face, neck and torso when she was dumped in Smallfield, Surrey, earlier this month

Her rescuers said that her injuries are as a result of the illegal practice of badger baiting.

It is believed Snickers will have been sent down a sett to flush badgers out before being shot.

After being treated for her injuries in a nearby vets she was taken to the RSPCA’s Putney Animal Hospital.

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She will need more surgery to her wounds – some of which are so severe that they are still open and are being treated with antibiotics.

Despite what she has been through, staff at the hospital say she is a ‘lovely friendly girl’ and still wags her tail when she has some attention.

RSPCA London Veterinary Director Caroline Allen said: ‘Sadly it is going to be a long road to recovery for poor Snickers, she has multiple wounds and some are very deep.

‘Given the degree of infection we can’t think about suturing at the moment, and so at this stage she is on intravenous fluids, pain relief and antibiotics and we will be managing the wounds until we feel we can close them.

‘The wounds have been cleaned and flushed, some are relatively fresh – days rather than longer – but there do also appear to be older scars.

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‘We are doing all we can at Putney to give Snickers a chance, but she is very weak and her poor body has already endured so much.’

In the last three years, the RSPCA has received almost 3,500 complaints about the persecution of wild animals, including badger baiting.

Chief Inspector Will Mitchell said: ‘Poor Snickers is a prime example of the unimaginable cruelty inflicted not only on the wild animals themselves, but also the dogs involved.

‘These merciless attacks are happening throughout the UK, both in the depths of the British countryside as well as in the leafy suburbs.

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‘Unfortunately Snickers was not microchipped and so her owner is unknown and I am keen to speak to anyone who may recognise her, or who know who may have owned her.

‘Given the degree of infection she could have been straying or been dumped in the area for some time.

‘I would urge anyone who has any information, no matter how small to please call me in confidence on the RSPCA inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018.’

Two dead horses and a Shetland pony that was stabbed so bad it had to be put down were found by police after a suspected arson attack, this morning.

Murphy the pony was left with stab injuries all over his body, and one deep wound on his back left knee was so deep the damage was beyond repair.

The RSPCA is appealing for information after it was called to the Downhill Road Allotments, in Sunderland, at around 1am, by emergency services who attended a suspected arson attack of a car that spread to a nearby stable.

Police found one horse dead in the stable and another one outside as well as the badly injured pony.

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RSPCA inspector Terri Ann Fannon, who went to the scene, said: ‘It was an absolutely terrible thing to have to deal with.

‘Murphy was in an awful state. He was very distressed, as you’d expect.

‘He had numerous slash and stab injuries all over his body. One stab wound on his back left knee was so deep the damage was irreparable.

‘Very sadly the vet decided that there was no other option but to put him to sleep.’

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: ‘At 1.36am today, police received a report of a fire at a stable in Rhodesia Road, Sunderland.

‘Emergency services attended and found a car alight. The fire had also spread to a nearby stable, where a horse was found deceased within. Police are treating the fire as suspected arson.

‘A second horse was found deceased outside the stable. It is believed that it was killed as a result of being attacked with a knife.

There were a number of people at the scene, but Murphy’s owner remains unknown to the animal welfare charity, who is urging them to get in touch to help with its investigation.

Murphy is described as an appaloosa Shetland pony stallion, but his age is unknown.

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RSPCA Inspector Trevor Walker who has now taken on the investigation said: ‘Clearly this was a deliberate attack. It’s absolutely shocking that someone would do something like this.

‘Anyone with any information, or who saw anything that might help me to find who is responsible, should call our appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and ask to leave a message for me.’

Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone who saw anything suspicious is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 051 070918.

A lifeless dog was found hanged from a tree in a Bradford park on Thursday.

The brindle and white Staffordshire bull terrier is believed to have died from a broken neck after getting hoisted over a branch and tied to another.

The lifeless pet was discovered by a dog walker who visited Brackenhill Park, off Hollingwood Lane in Bradford, on Thursday.

RSPCA inspector Sarah Bagley, who handled the shocking discovery, said: ‘This is one of the worst things I’ve dealt with so far as an RSPCA inspector.

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‘This was a big, heavy and seemingly otherwise healthy dog, a male bull breed weighing over 25kg (55lb).

‘Three pieces of rope have been tied together, one end tied around his neck, and hoisted over a tree branch and tied to another branch.

‘It’s absolutely horrifying to think that someone would or could do something like this.’

The dog is described as a young adult aged one or two years old.

It was not microchipped so the animal charity has no way of tracing its owner at the moment.

Inspector Bagley said: ‘The vet who has examined him believes he has died as a result of hanging.

‘He has bruising around his neck and his neck is broken. He was otherwise in good body condition.

‘It’s extremely upsetting to think about what happened here. There seems no doubt this dog has suffered a terrible death.’

The dog was found in the lower part of the park in a clearing in the woods where there was lots of rubbish including a burnt out barbeque and sofa cushions.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious, or who recognises the dog and knows who he belonged to, is urged to contact the RSPCA as soon as possible.

‘If you think you know anything that might help me to find the person or people responsible for this please call the inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and ask to leave a message for me,’ said Inspector Bagley.

Neighbours were left ‘heartbroken’ after discovering 27 neglected cats abandoned at an empty house.

Residents in a village near Boston, Lincolnshire, Sarah Wright and Kelly Game were devastated after finding the ’emaciated’ pets at the home in Furlong Road, Old Leake.

Sarah said the animals were in a very bad way and so ‘desperate for food that their bones, spine and ribs were clearly visible through their fur’. They were also riddled with flea bites.

They contacted RSPCA, but said the animal welfare charity ‘only took four or five of the felines because they did not have enough space’.

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However, RSPCA said they took the cats in the ‘worst condition’ and are planning to have the ‘issue resolved in the next week’.

Sarah and Kelly have planned a rescue mission to catch the rest and take them to the vets for treatment.

Sarah added: ‘It is absolutely heartbreaking. Kelly had shared a post on Facebook after spotting many cats outside her house and I wanted to help. Something had to be done. They are in an awful state.

‘The RSPCA only took four or five of the cats as they said they did not have enough space. We are hoping to catch the cats, especially the ones that look really ill and take them to the vets for treatment.

‘There’s about 27 cats, some riddled with fleas and flea bites and others very undernourished.’

The women claim the cats were left at the property after its previous tenant relocated.

Sarah continued: ‘We have no idea how long the cats have been left for. Locals say they have been taken food to them when they can.

‘Some cats have been run over outside the property and the others will not survive if they are left the way they are.’

The women have asked the vet if they will provide flea treatment and worming tablets to the animals for free but they are unsure if this will happen.

Sarah and Kelly say if the vet is unable to help they will have to fund all treatment out of their own pocket and may have to set up a fundraising page to help.

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Sarah is planning on temporarily homing some of the cats once they have been treated.

RSPCA inspector Becky Harper, who is dealing with the case, told Lincolnshire Live: ‘The cats are not abandoned and there is an ongoing investigation.

‘We have removed some of the cats – the ones that were in the worst condition.

‘We are working with the owner and expect to have the issue resolved in the next seven to 10 days.’

Nine cats in one small town have died after being poisoned with antifreeze in just two weeks.

Police are investigating whether the killings could be deliberate after two vomited up ‘poisoned tuna’.

Devastated pet owners say their cats were left ‘screaming in pain’ after losing their ability to walk.

Four cats in Kingswood, near Bristol, have passed away from ingesting the toxic substance in the past week.

Arron Johnson and his wife said two of their cats, Buzz and Jessie, died from poisoning.

‘I’d like to think someone wouldn’t be this cruel but when they were being sick they were bringing up what looked like tuna and we don’t feed them that,’ Arron said.

Vets confirmed both of their cats died after consuming antifreeze.

He said: ‘Either someone is playing a horrible game or they’ve left it out somewhere.

‘But, it has been awful, we had to watch Buzz on Saturday die in agony.

‘He was screaming in pain, couldn’t walk properly and had lost the use of his back legs.

‘His eyelid had closed – the vet said he was going blind – and he had a swollen face.

‘He was also being sick and drinking loads of water and like I said crying a lot,’ he added.

Kathryn Sanders, who has also lost two of her cats Sasha and Scar within two days this week, had also noticed chicken in the sick, which she said they did not feed their cats.

Kathryn said: ‘They lost the feeling in their back legs and were having fits, we took them to the emergency vets but it was too late, they had to be put down.

‘The vet said there was no doubt about it, it was antifreeze and that we should keep our other cats inside for the time being.

‘It has been devastating to go through, it really has,’ she added.

At the moment, no one knows if the animals are being purposefully targeted or if the cause is accidental but the numbers of deaths so far means many in the area are keeping their cats indoors.

Residents who have affected now want to warn other people in the area to be careful and to keep their animals inside the house at the moment.

The police have been informed by residents about the poisonings, however anyone who suspects animal cruelty should contact the RSPCA hot line on 0300 1234 999.

A RSPCA spokesperson said: ‘Deliberately poisoning a protected animal is an offence and carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and/ or an unlimited fine.

‘Signs that your animal could have been poisoned vary and can include any of the following: depression, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties and bad breath, twitching or seizures. Different substances can affect animals in different ways. Some symptoms can take days to appear.

‘If you think that your pet may have been poisoned please contact your vet as soon as possible.

‘They will ask for details of when you suspect the poisoning occurred and symptoms. You may be asked to bring in your pet as soon as possible.

‘People should be careful when using substances to ensure that other animals are not affected (slug pellets and antifreeze in particular) and that substances are carefully disposed of, rather than dumped on a roadside or in a park.’

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A cat owner found the lifeless body of her pet with a cable tie wrapped around its neck.

Heartbroken Lisa Walker, 52, came home to find her tabby Tiger-Lily with the lethal plastic device pulled tight around her throat.

The devastated owner is convinced her 13-year-old cat was brutally choked to death by someone who wished to cause the animal serious harm.

Lisa, from St George, Bristol, said: ‘Some evil, vile and nasty person has killed our beautiful cat.

‘I went to the garage to put some washing on. That’s when I found her dead in her bed.

‘The cable tie around her neck was so tight we could hardly get the scissors underneath to cut it off. We had to use a dog’s nail clippers instead.

‘I find it so hard to believe that there are people out there that can do this to a defenceless animal.’

Lisa believes Tiger-Lily was killed between 7am and 9.30am on September 10.

She made the grisly discovery after returning home from work to check on her daughter who was unwell.

Lisa, who took Tiger-Lily to the vet to be cremated the same day, added: ‘She was 13, but she was like a young cat. You would have never guessed she was that old.

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‘She couldn’t have been put there as the garage was locked. We have a cat flap. She must have managed to make her way home.’

Lisa has spoken out to warn others to be vigilant and vented her anger towards the person responsible for her cat’s death on Facebook.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: ‘This sounds very upsetting and our thoughts are with the owner of the cat.

‘Anybody with information can contact the RSPCA’s cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.’

A tiny puppy called Radley was found dumped in a handbag with a hairband tying his paws together and a tin of dog food.

The red bag had been tied to the door of a charity shop and the eight-week old puppy was placed inside with the food and a note saying ‘Found this puppy.’

A passer-by who spotted the abandoned border terrier cross at the entrance to the charity shop handed it in to the RSPCA who examined Radley.

They found the band was so tight it had cut off the circulation to his paws.

The animal charity is now seeking the cruel person who used the elasticated hairband to tie Radley’s front paws together.

RSPCA Inspector Phil Norman said he was investigating how the little pup came to be dumped in the handbag and why he was tied up in such a way.

He said: ‘We received a call from a woman who had found a little puppy in a red handbag fastened to the door handle of a charity shop in The Broadway, Greenford, Middlesex.

‘The pup’s front paws were tied together with an elasticated hairband. There was also an unopened tin of dog food in the bag and a note stuck to the outside saying ‘Found this puppy’.

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‘Poor little Radley must have been very stressed and frightened being stuffed into that handbag and abandoned in the middle of the night.

‘The hairband would also have caused him some pain and restricted his movement, adding to his distress.

‘There’s absolutely no excuse for leaving a young, vulnerable puppy like this in such awful circumstances and Radley is lucky he wasn’t more seriously injured.’

Radley was taken to the RSPCA’s Putney Animal Hospital, in south-west London and Inspector Norman was gathering CCTV in order to trace whoever was responsible for abandoning the pup and appealed for anyone who saw anything to contact them.

London veterinary director Caroline Allen said: ‘As this little pup was found in a handbag we decided to name him Radley – and he’s now winning over the hearts of all of the staff here!

‘He’s doing really well and is such a cutie. He’s not available for rehoming yet and we’re still running tests and checks on him so he’ll be with us a little longer yet.’

A tiny kitten was left to die in a park after being shaved and having his testicles cut off with scissors.

The male kitten, believed to be between 12 and 14 weeks old, was found at around 8am this morning by a dog walker in a park in Preston, Lancashire.

He had been left in a small box and was covered in his own faeces.

The tiny kitty is said to have only a 50% chance of surviving his wounds after he was attacked by unknown thugs.

He remains on a drip at Robert Jones Veterinary Surgery in Blackpool, Lancashire, and the RSPCA are currently investigating.

The starved and shaved kitten was brought to Blackpool Cats in Care rescue where shocked volunteers found him clinging to life.

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Cats in Care volunteer, Janet Moores, said: ‘This is the worst case of animal abuse we have seen in a very long time.

‘You can clearly see that the hair on his head has been cut with scissors, and the vet said his testicles had also been cut with scissors.

‘In an ideal world he’d probably have an operation to remove the infected parts, but he’s just too weak to pull through. His body’s in shock.

‘He has definitely been a pet. He’s too friendly to have been a feral. He’s very, very skinny and he has been starved, and he’s so dehydrated.

‘It’s obvious that whoever has done this has put him in just a small box or carrier because he is covered in his own urine and faeces. He’s obviously been locked somewhere small.

‘It was very clear before we even looked at his back end that he had scissor marks all over his head.

‘They have chopped off all his fur as if they were playing hairdressers and when we looked underneath it’s very clear they have cut his testicles off as well.

‘It’s barbaric. Whoever has done this are sick, sick people.’

Janet added: ‘We’re hoping and praying that he’s going to pull through because he has suffered beyond belief.

‘The RSPCA have been amazing, and the vets. They rushed him straight onto a drip. He will be in the vets for a long, long time.

‘He needs lots of fluids, and antibiotics because his body temperature is very, very low. He’s going to need an operation to fix his back end because his testicles are cut through.

‘Fingers crossed he is going to pull through and we can get the poor little mite home because we’d love to find him a lovely family where he’s never going to suffer like this again.’

The RSPCA has been approached for comment.

A man who threw a small dog against a wall and strangled it to death after he became angry has been jailed.

Robert Fitzgerald, 38, killed Titch the miniature Yorkshire terrier after he flew into a rage when he tripped over the tiny pooch after a call.

He had been looking after the dog for friends Paul and Donna James at their home in Birmingham while they went on holiday to Spain.

The court heard the callous became stressed following an angry phone call with his employers on April 21 this year.

A neighbour, Jade Leech, who had been asked to keep an eye on the dog by its owners, found the dead pet wrapped in bedding the day after the attack.

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West Midlands Police and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) were called in to investigate.

A post mortem found Titch died of blunt force trauma to the head, causing a brain haemorrhage and fracture to the skull on the left side of the head behind the eye.

The vet also found dislocation of the tail bones 2.5cm away from the tip of the tail.

In a police interview, Fitzgerald, of Sparkhill, Birmingham, who has learning difficulties, admitted killing the animal.

Yesterday, he was jailed for 16 weeks after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

Chair of the bench Paul Grace also disqualified him from owning animals for life and ordered Fitzgerald to pay a victim surcharge of £115.

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He said: ‘The offence is so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified.

‘We find high culpability and greater harm. Your learning difficulties do not mitigate your behaviour.

‘We sentence you to 20 weeks reduced to 16 weeks because of your early guilty plea.

‘We disqualify you for life from owning another animal. This was an appalling incident – you are going down now.’

Rafe Turner, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said: ‘He has admitted causing the dog’s death. Perhaps the clue to the size of the dog is in the name – Titch.

‘In an interview on May 15, Mr Fitzgerald admitted subjecting the dog to blunt force trauma and also admitted to strangling the dog.

‘He said something at work had upset him. He had had a telephone call which was a difficult telephone call with his employers and that caused him to be angry.’

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Kate Scully, defending, said: ‘This happened as a result of stress. He was undergoing significant stress at this time.

‘He was off work and was under pressure to return to work. He did trip over the dog and things spiralled from there.

‘His learning disability would have limited his ability to adapt to stress.’

Hidden camera footage shows a badger taking almost minute to die after being shot at close range while trapped in a cage.

This is the main method of killing badgers during a cull to prevent the spread of bovine TB, something farmers insist is necessary to protect their livestock.

Animal rights activists say it is inhumane and should be stopped.

‘The brutal slaughter of tens of thousands of badgers in the biggest destruction of a protected species in living memory is a national disgrace,’ Dominic Dyer, CEO of the Badger Trust, told the Observer who obtained the footage.

‘This war on wildlife has been carried out in secrecy by poorly paid contractors with no independent monitoring or concern for animal welfare or public safety.

‘The film footage that has emerged from Cumbria is the first time we have seen evidence of cull contractors at work.

‘It clearly shows a badger taking over 50 seconds to die after being shot in a cage, and contractors removing it from the site without bagging and sealing the carcass in line with government TB biosecurity guidelines.’

The footage was obtained by the Hunt Investigation Team filming undercover in Cumbria, and was released ahead of the Tory conference.

A spokesman for the National Farmers’ Union said: ‘More than 33,000 cattle were slaughtered last year in England because of this devastating disease and more than 3,800 farms that had previously been clear of the disease were affected by it.

‘The NFU has always supported a comprehensive and proportionate eradication strategy, which balances disease-control measures with business sustainability.’

Villagers have been warned to keep away from a pair of potentially venomous snakes that have been spotted on the loose.

The RSPCA has urged people in Alrewas, Staffordshire, to keep a safe distance if they spot the escaped reptiles as it is not known exactly what breed they are.

Officers were called after a shocked driver found a 5ft long corn snake in a plastic box in a layby near Orgreave Hall on Monday.

There were two other boxes dumped nearby each containing shed skin – meaning two other snakes had been dumped but escaped.

But as the RSPCA cannot say with certainty what kind they are, they could be venomous.

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Local residents have now expressed their concerns over the escaped snakes and say they fear for the safety of their children and pets.

Animal collection officer Catherine Strawford said: ‘The corn snake we found is very friendly but at 5ft long is quite a size.

‘It appears that two other snakes were dumped at the time but these have escaped – at this stage we do not know what species they are and indeed if they are venomous.

‘We will continue to monitor the area and in the meantime the RSPCA would always recommend that anyone who sees a stray exotic snake to keep a safe distance, call our helpline on 0300 1234 999 and monitor the animal until we can get there.

‘We believe people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are, and once they grow in size they can no longer cope.

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‘It is so sad that they are just dumped at the side of the road when people who are struggling to cope could simply call us for help and advice.’

Villagers have described the escape as ‘like something from a horror film.’

One mother-of-two, who did not want to be named, said: ‘It’s quite alarming that they don’t know what sort of snakes they are.

‘I have two young children and a dog and I’d be paranoid now if we went walking over the fields – I’ll be staying away for the time being that’s for sure.

‘I’m worried because I absolutely hate snakes and to know there’s two slithering around somewhere nearby is pretty scary.

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‘What if they make their way into the village? It sends a chill down my spine.’

A dad, who also wished to remain anonymous, added: ‘Two mystery snakes escaping in a village sounds like something straight from a horror film.

‘I hope they find them soon. People keep all sorts of snakes, it could be anything. It really gives you the creeps.’

Stephanie Jayson, senior scientific officer from the RSPCA’s wildlife department, added: ‘Many people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when they take them on, which we believe may be why we are rescuing hundreds of reptiles every year.

‘Abandoning a reptile or releasing unwanted exotic pets into the wild is cruel and illegal.

‘Most exotic animals kept as pets are unlikely to be able to survive in the wild in Britain and non-native species could pose a serious threat to our native wildlife.’

A dog has been forced to stand for hours in its own faeces on a tiny balcony for five years according to its neighbours who say they have struggled to get the animal any help.

Residents and workmen on the Monkswood estate in Leeds claim they have begged the RSPCA and West Yorkshire Police to ‘save’ Shane the German Shepherd but say they have had no luck.

As Shane’s owner feeds him and is unwilling to give him up the animal can be left to spend over 15 hours a day on a balcony measuring just one metre across, the neighbours say.

After five years of complaining, residents have enlisted the help of the Animal Liberation Front, which is known for breaking the law to release animals from captivity.

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A member of the Animal Liberation Front told Metro.co.uk: ‘You might as well phone Police Academy instead of the RSPCA because they do nothing in so many cases.

‘We are getting more calls like this now because the RSPCA gets told about mistreatment and then does nothing about the animal, it can be heartbreaking for animal lovers to see nothing being done.’

One resident on the Monkswood estate said: ‘This poor German Shepherd is still living on the balcony. He used to bark all day now he is silent.

‘He stands in his own faeces, unable to sit down and urine runs off onto the ground so the whole place stinks. He is never walked and goes onto the one bed flat to sleep at night.

‘I have spoken to the owner several times but he won’t let me find a rescue centre for him.

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‘I have reported this to the RSPCA who say the dog is healthy so they do not think what is happening is cruel.’

They added: ‘After reporting the incident to the RSPCA all I got was phone calls asking for donations, which was really annoying. The dog warden says as he is not straying, there is nothing they can do.

‘The council have sent letters [to the dog’s owner] which are ignored, about the noise, the smell and how this is anti-social behaviour.

‘Meanwhile this poor dog has lived on the balcony since he was a puppy – this has been going on for over five years, he needs to be freed.’

But the dog’s owner says Shane is well fed, not mistreated and said ‘he’s a happy dog’.

The owner said: ‘He doesn’t get left out on the balcony, he’s way too big. We just leave it open so he can go in and out.

‘He does his mess out there because if we let him into the garden he’d run out on to the road.

‘None of the neighbours have come round to speak to us about it but they’re fine to put it all over Facebook.

‘Why not come and knock on the door? The RSPCA have been round five times but they can’t do anything because he’s well fed, not mistreated and he doesn’t cower when they go to him.’

The resident – who asked not to be named – also demanded West Yorkshire Police intervene and remove the dog but claims they were told it was not the police’s problem.

The West Yorkshire Police Customer Contact Centre Team said: ‘It is the RSPCA that would need to create a file/case for the animal.

‘We would attend with RSPCA to seize the animal. I could only advise you to keep reporting this to them, the more you report the dog, the more evidence they will have to prosecute.

‘Unfortunately, the police cannot attend and remove the dog, it is the RSPCA that would remove it, we would only attend to prevent a breach of the peace.’

A RSPCA spokesman said: ‘We are aware of this. Unfortunately we are unable to discuss complaints about specific people and what action may have been taken.

‘A lot of the time issues will be dealt with by advice and education and it is not always appropriate to publicise this information for legal reasons.

‘We are so grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering to us and we would like to reassure people we will always look into and, if necessary, investigate any complaints made to us about animal welfare.’

He added: ‘Our vital work helping animals is funded entirely thanks to kind gifts from the public. We only contact supporters who have consented to hearing from us and people can opt out at any time by calling 0300 123 0346.’

A hedgehog had to be rescued after she was discovered with a fish food pot stuck on her head.

Bubbles, as she has since been named, was found wandering around a garden in Girvan, South Ayrshire, before she was rescued on October 3.

The owners of the property alerted the Scottish SPCA, who subsequently removed the pot from its head.

The animal charity is now warning people to correctly discard rubbish following an ‘alarming increase’ in animal injuries.

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Animal Rescue Officer Sheena MacTaggart said: ‘The hedgehog, which we have named Bubbles, was found stuck behind a fence with the plastic container on her head.

‘She was so lucky to end up in the right garden, or she may never have been helped. We were able to remove the pot from her head and release her back into the wild.

‘Sadly, she is one of the lucky few. We have noticed an alarming increase in animal injuries due to incorrectly discarded rubbish, with everything from cats and bats, to badgers and foxes being affected.

‘We want to remind everyone that they can help save wildlife by properly disposing of their rubbish.’

In April, a hedgehog was found coated in blue paint, prompting the RSPCA to urge people to make sure they store all paint, chemicals and pesticides securely and out of the reach of animals.

The unusually coloured critter had to be anaesthetised to have the ‘rubbery’ substance removed by staff at RSPCA West Hatch, Somerset.

A man who launched a cat into the air like a rugby ball while his laughing friend filmed has avoided jail.

The pair can be heard joking about as Joshua Weir, 26, picks up the defenceless cat in the street in Rhyl, north Wales.

Lewis Brereton, 26, films Weir repeatedly shouting ‘hope you have nine lives’ before throwing the animal skywards.

Weir, of Linden Drive, Prestatyn, and Brereton, of Bryntirion Avenue, Rhyl, both pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary cruelty by throwing the cat.

They were given eight-week prison sentences, suspended for six months, and banned from keeping animals for three years.

They were also ordered to each pay £460.

Court chairman Darren Campbell told Weir that his decision to pick up a defenceless animal and throw it in the air ‘for your own enjoyment, is incredulous to us’.

He said animals felt pain and fear and magistrates described their behaviour as ‘appalling’.

Tudur Owen, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: ‘One of the men held it in both hands and swung his arms before launching it in the air at 45 degrees.

‘It reached a considerable height, twisting in the air.’

Solicitors for both men said they had been drinking and were remorseful.

Graham Parry, for Brereton, said they were ‘very drunk’ but had owned up immediately.

Brereton found it ‘excruciating’ to now watch the video, Mr Parry said.

‘Fortunately the cat seems to have recovered and ran off,’ Mr Parry added.

Rebecca Boswell, for Weir, said he had lost his job looking after people with autism.

She said what had happened was completely out of character.

The court chairman said: ‘You are not going to prison because of your previous good character.’

A vile thug who beat up his dog so badly he broke its back before asking vets to put the animal down has been jailed.

Cruel David Owen, 30, owned lurcher Archie for two years and inflicted serious injuries on the animal in that time, a court heard.

After breaking the dog’s back, he phoned the vet claiming Archie had bitten him and asked them to put his dog down.

But vets examining the dog refused and found he showed no signs of aggression but had suffered a wide range of injuries.

This included a suspected ruptured ear canal, severe facial swelling, blood in his urine and a compound fracture to one of his vertebrae.

Owen, from Pool, Cornwall, appeared at Truro Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to meet the needs of an animal.

Prosecuting the case for the RSPCA, Lindi Meyer said that on April 16 Owen rang Cornwall Animal Hospital in Redruth to say the pet had bitten him and needed to be put to sleep.

He claimed Archie lunged for his face and neck and that he had acted in self-defence, describing the force he used as ‘appropriate but not excessive’.

But Ms Meyer said: ‘This was a sustained attack during which the defendant acted in anger.

‘It was an inappropriate method of discipline and instead of asking for help, he asked for the dog to be killed.

‘The RSPCA fears for any animal in his possession.’

Ms Meyer said Archie suffered heavy blows to his neck, face and thorax, and the court was showed a series of images depicting the serious nature of Archie’s injuries.

Defending Owen, Neil Lewin said the defendant is still a young man who has had a troubled upbringing.

He said: ‘He has a complex background and was in a long-term relationship for six years.

‘When the relationship broke down it caused a lot of emotional distress. He didn’t cope well whatsoever.

‘Around the time of this breakdown he got Archie and it appears the time wasn’t right for him to have a pet.

‘Mr Owen has anger management problems and difficult dealing with traumatic experiences.’

Sentencing Owen, district judge Diane Baker said the defendant ‘showed no remorse at all during interview’ and ‘gave a lot of excuses’.

She said: ‘It was a deliberate and sustained unprovoked attack on a dog in your care.

‘The attack caused significant and serious injuries and you tried to argue it was discipline.’

Owen had already been given a suspended sentence at Truro Crown Court for a separate offence so Judge Baker handed Owen an immediate custodial sentence.

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Owen was then given an 18-week prison sentence and told that he must appear at Truro Crown Court for a judge to decide on the activation of the suspended sentence.

He must also pay £500 in costs and is now banned from keeping animals for life.

Archie has since recovered and been re-homed.

A severely emaciated dog has been rescued after it was discovered abandoned in a park in North Shields.

The white Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named Ayma by veterinary staff, is so thin all of her ribs are visible and she is unable to stand or walk.

She was discovered by a member of the public at about 6am on Friday on a grassy embankment near Howden Road, close to the A187 in North Shields.

RSPCA inspector Cathy Maddison, who is now investigating, said: ‘No matter how long I do this job, nothing quite prepares you for seeing a dog at this level of emaciation.

‘I don’t know how she is still alive and what is even more heartbreaking is just how lovely and friendly she is, despite what she has been through.

‘She was found by a member of the public this morning who spotted her wrapped in an old towel.

‘Luckily, the kind member of the public scooped her up and we were contacted. He told me he was on his way to get ready for a job interview when he stopped what he was doing to help which really shows the kindness of members of the public.’

Upsetting photos reveal how the RSPCA discovered a badly abused and emaciated dog lying next do the decomposing bodies of its siblings.

The one-year-old terrier refused to leave the sides of the two other animals after they had been abandoned in a kennel.

The RSPCA said it was releasing the graphic pictures to highlight the issue of animal abuse and attempt to catch the people responsible.

Warning: This article contains photos of animal abuse that some may find upsetting.

An inspector who visited the scene, in Runcorn, Cheshire, described it as ‘the saddest sight I have seen in 12 years in the job’.

Gareth Forshaw discovered the animals after his own dog repeatedly barked in the direction of the kennel.

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‘When I peered inside I could see two dead dogs and the smell of their decomposition hit me,’ Mr Forshaw said.

‘Me and a neighbour went to get some water and food for the poorly dog and backed away from the kennel.

‘She then came out from where she was hiding and drunk all the water and ate all the food before jumping back in the kennel and laying on the dead dogs.

‘She was so scared. It was awful and really upsetting for all the neighbours who were trying to help, especially as we knew she had been left with the dead animals which were probably family members.’

After calling the RSPCA the neighbours managed to put a dog lead on the terrier so she wouldn’t run away.

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There was another dog outside the kennel that ran off when he approached, he said.

Inspector Lisa Lupson, who attended the scene, said: ‘It was truly horrendous, the poor dog was so ill and frightened.

‘She still wanted to be with the dead dogs, which we believe were her siblings.

‘Initial reports suggest they had been dead for a number of days.’

The sick dog was rushed to Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where she is being treated for severe mange and weight loss.

Lisa added: ‘She is the sweetest little thing.

‘When we got to the hospital I gave her biscuit and in spite of all she had been through she wagged her tail, so we’ve decided to call her Biscuit.’

The RSPCA would like anyone with information about this incident to call their appeals line on 0300 123 8018.