When one-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Winston was brought to the RSPCA centre in Essex, staff noticed that he wasn’t the same as the other dogs.

The stray came to the centre at Christmas time, and was struggling with his walks and gait.

Kathy Butler, branch animal support worker, said: ‘When Winston arrived we realised he had a roached back, appeared tense through his body and did little skips when he was walking.

‘A few days after he arrived, when he was out on a walk, he collapsed.

‘We took him to the vets and started monitoring him very closely.

‘We started to notice the tensions through his body, his odd wobbly gait – where his back end hops, skips and jumps – and his muscle cramps.

‘We also noticed that he’d struggle when reaching down to his bowls with his hind legs rising up off of the floor.’

After numerous tests at the vet, it was found that Winston has an unusual double mutation of L2hga (or L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria) a debilitating genetic disease found in Staffies and some other breeds which can cause wobbly walking, fits or collapses, muscle cramps.

It’s not only debilitating for poor Winston, and without a cure or major treatment, but it also could see his lifespan significantly shortened.

That’s why the RSPCA are desperate to get the good-natured pup into a loving home that care for him in a way he deserves.

Kathy says: ‘We’ve now got Winston on medication and supplements, as recommended to us by vets, but what we really want is to find him an understanding and loving new home where he can enjoy his life – however long left of it he has.’

The ideal home for Winston would be one where there’s another dog for him to be best friends with.

He’s known as something of a bright spark at the centre, and like many Staffies is treat motivated when it comes to learning new things.

Although he’d prefer not to live with a cat, he can live with teenagers, and he also walks well on a lead apart from his wobbles (which thankfully don’t cause him any pain).

‘He’s a lovely natured lad who hasn’t had a great start in life and can be a little worried by new things and strange situations,’ continues Kathy.

‘But he’s incredibly friendly, loves people and enjoys being with other dogs.’

If you think you might be able to give Winston a steady home, check out his online profile on the RSPCA website.

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Heart-breaking before and after pictures show the incredible recovery of a dog who was set on fire and beaten in the face with a slab of wood.

When rescuers found Bruce the bull-lurcher wandering the streets of a sleepy village on the outskirts of Carlisle dazed, battered and near death, they thought he wouldn’t make it. The emaciated dog had been dumped days before by vicious attackers, whose beatings left him with a deep hole in the top of his skull, burns around his tail and puncture wounds in the side of his face.

Rescuers rushed him to the vets where an MRI scan revealed that Bruce’s skull was shattered and he couldn’t open his jaw. He underwent life-changing surgery to remove an eye, repair his fractured skull and treat an infection caused by suspected splinters from wood used to beat him, which also had a nail sticking out.

While Bruce was being treated at the surgery, vet Marie Coleman fell in love with the ‘special’ dog and decided to adopt him permanently.

She said he has settled into her home well and has recovered brilliantly.

Ms Coleman said: ‘He loves home life. His wounds have healed very well. You can hardly see his scar at the top of his head.

‘He lost all of his hair on his bottom from being burnt and all the way down the inside of his legs, which has healed up beautifully.

‘He is so special. Bruce is 100 per cent happy in life and he’s made our lives 100 per cent better.’

Bruce now enjoys the simple pleasures of curling up on the sofa with the vet’s young son, George, and long walks in the countryside.

‘I fell in love with him because he has the sweetest temperament and never grumbled when he was being treated even though he was in terrible pain,’ said Ms Coleman.

RSPCA Inspector Sam Morris said when Bruce was found on August 30, 2018, he was ‘gobsmacked’ at the horrific state the dog had been left in.

He said: ‘I’ve worked for the RSPCA for 10 years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything that awful.

‘We know Bruce had been in that condition for a number of days before he got the vet treatment he needed.

‘The pain that he must have been in is unimaginable. He was losing the will to carry on.’

‘You really question what kind of person could do this. Vets said the side of his face had been caved in and described the damage to his skull as dramatic.

‘Bruce is a fighter. As soon as he woke up from the surgery his tail was wagging!’

The miraculous tale will feature on the new series of The Dog Rescuers, which kickstarts tonight on Channel 5.

In the first episode, presenter Alan Davies says it is a ‘miracle’ Bruce survived and recovered from his ordeal.

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Do you have room in your heart and home for sweet two-year-old cat Goldie, who has terminal cancer of the nose?

Goldie is a ginger kitty currently living at the RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield, and District branch.

She’s in search of a foster home where she’ll be able to spend her final days.

The affectionate kitten was diagnosed with cancer back in February. There’s no treatment available to help her, but luckily she’s still feeling healthy – the only noticeable sign she’s poorly is her swollen nose.

Goldie is very affectionate and loving, and adores cuddles on the sofa, snoozing on people’s laps, and playing with her feather toys.

The RSPCA is urgently trying to find Goldie a foster home so she can relax and feel loved rather than being in a cattery environment.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: ‘We are still urgently looking for a foster home for poor Goldie.

‘She has recently been diagnosed with cancer of the nose and we are so sad to say there is no veterinary treatment available.

‘Aside from her swollen nose, Goldie seems to be feeling well – she’s loving and playful, the same as she’s always been.

‘It’s a real shame for her to be in the cattery while she still feels well and we want to get her settled into a foster home ASAP so she can enjoy the rest of her health for as long as possible.

‘As her health is inevitably going to decline, we are looking for a home with no other pets and no young children.

‘This is to ensure she stays safe when she becomes more fragile.

‘In the time being, Goldie would enjoy a safe outdoors space to explore.

‘Goldie may be ill, but right now she is still a playful, affectionate young cat and she will make a wonderful companion for somebody in the time she has.’

While she’s in a foster home, all of Goldie’s veterinary care will be funded by the center, so potential fosterers don’t need to worry about spending a lot of money on treatment.

She’s in Leeds and will need a foster home near the shelter.

If you think you could give Goldie the home she deserves, fill in an application to foster through the RSPCA website.

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Can you help heal Samsung the kitten’s broken heart?

The RSPCA is raising funds for life-saving surgery for Samsung, a 17-week-old kitten with a serious heart condition.

A routine vet check found that Samsung has a high-grade heart murmur, which turned out to be Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), a heart defect that develops at birth. This means his heart does not pump blood correctly.

Surgery is vital to correct this and save Samsung’s life, but it’s expensive – the operation costs around £3,000 and aftercare takes this to £4,000.

Samsung came into the RSPCA Mid-Norfolk and North Suffolk branch in November 2019 with his mother and littermates after their owner could no longer care for them. Samsung’s mum and siblings have all since been rehomed.

Chloe Shorten, animal welfare manager, said: ‘Samsung is a happy and friendly kitten but sadly his condition means he wouldn’t make it past six months old without vital surgery.

‘The risky procedure closes part of the heart to allow the blood to flow correctly.

‘Our vets decided they couldn’t wait any longer to fix Samsung’s broken heart so he had the surgery on Tuesday (10 March) and thankfully he has come round from the operation and is doing well, so much so in fact that the vets are finding it hard to keep him still!

‘We are hopeful that with this surgery Samsung will have a long and happy life ahead of him.

‘The operation is estimated to cost around £3,000 and with his aftercare, this could be in the region of £4,000 which is why we are appealing to our generous supporters to help us raise vital funds for Samsung’s surgery and care.’

If you’d like to help the RSPCA cover the costs of Samsung’s care, you can donate through JustGiving.

The appeal reads: ‘Samsung is only seventeen weeks old and could have a long happy life ahead of him full of catnip, toys and love but we need your help to get him there.’

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An RSPCA animal carer has died suddenly after feeling ‘off colour for a couple of days’.

Jayne Lowry, 26, was rushed to hospital on Saturday after going into cardiac arrest. Her family described how paramedics ‘fought very hard to save her’, but she died the following day.

Her mum Jackie Lowry, 56, has said the family will now have to ‘wait and see’ what caused her daughter’s death. She changed her picture on Facebook to a photo of Jayne, with the words ‘protect your community against Covid-19’.

Weeks earlier, Jayne had described on social media how she had ‘braved’ the coronavirus pandemic to attend Crufts. She did not have a cough, a known of symptom of the virus, before her death.

Paying tribute to her ‘amazing and beautiful daughter’, Mrs Lowry said she would be ‘forever grateful’ to the paramedics who tried to save her.

She continued: ‘Why this devastating thing happened we will only have to wait and see. She will be forever in our hearts and sorely missed.’

Jayne, from Preston, Lancashire, did work experience at Blackpool Zoo before she became an RSPCA animal care assistant in July 2016.

Her boyfriend of eight years, Euan Murray, 28, wrote online: ‘We have all tragically lost the most loving woman on the face of the planet – funny and beautiful to boot.

‘Jayney, I am so grateful for the time we shared together, they have been the best years of my life. I wish more than anything that we could have had the future we planned together.

‘I’d give anything to hold you one last time, our socially distant walk round the park where we met all those years ago just wasn’t enough. I would have kept walking forever if I had known it was the last time that I’d see you.’

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Euan’s father Robert Murray shared a Facebook post about Jayne’s death, entitled ‘for those who think social distancing is a joke’.

He told how his son had been unable to touch his girlfriend due to the coronavirus restrictions, including not giving a ‘kiss or a hug on her birthday’ or being able to walk hand-in-hand.

Mr Murray said: ‘Covid-19 does not just affect the old! It has no respect of age or gender. Our lives were all the brighter for you Jayne Lowry, and now all the darker without you.’

A pet cat was left burned and skewered sitting on top of a disposable barbecue down an alleyway.

The RSPCA are now investigating the grim discovery in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Inspectors found that the cat had been microchipped, but after speaking to her former owner learned she had been rehomed with her kittens two years ago. The identity of the person who took the animal in is not known.

The cat was found in an alleyway opposite the shops on Beckett Road, Wheatley, on April 16.

RSPCA Inspector Tamsin Drysdale said: ‘The person who found the cat said she had a skewer through her body and was laying on the top of a disposable barbecue.

‘She was so badly burned it isn’t possible to be sure what colour her fur was.

‘We don’t know whether this happened while the cat was alive or dead, but I suspect, and very much hope, it was the latter.’

She added: ‘The cat was microchipped and after a couple of days of trying I have now been able to speak to the person who’s details were registered. They said that they rehomed the cat and her kittens two years ago but they couldn’t tell me who to.

‘If anyone has any information at all that might help me to find out what happened here please call the RSPCA inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

‘Did you see something? Did you hear something? Do you know who the cat might have belonged to? Someone out there could be looking for and missing this cat and I am very keen to find her current owner.’

The RSPCA is continuing an emergency service through the lockdown period.

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A family got an unwelcome surprise when they found a 3ft corn snake lurking in their bathroom.

The RSPCA was called to collect the reptile, thought to be somebody’s escaped pet, from a home in Grays, Essex on April 16.

RSPCA animal collection officer and exotics officer Joe White said the caller’s daughter was ‘absolutely hysterical’ after stumbling across the animal.

The snake was ‘a little skinny’ but ‘feisty’ and has been taken to a wildlife centre to recover.

Corn snakes can grow to almost 5ft and are not venomous, but may bite under stress or if they smell food.

Mr White, who specialises in exotic animals, said: ‘The caller’s daughter found the snake in their bathroom and was absolutely hysterical.

‘A lot of people find snakes very frightening so it must have been a huge shock to come across one slithering around the bathroom.

‘The snake was obviously quite scared by the commotion too, as he slithered inside the toilet.’

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He added: ‘He’s a little skinny but was feisty and that’s usually a good sign. I took him to a wildlife centre nearby where they’ll care for him until he’s strong enough to be rehomed.’

Snakes are ‘talented escape artists’ and will take the opportunity of a gap in an enclosure door, or a loose-fitting lid, to get out, the RSPCA said.

People with pet snakes are advised to make sure its enclosure is kept secure and locked if necessary.

Anyone who believes the corn snake may belong to them is asked to contact the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

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Household pets are being dumped over baseless concerns they can pass coronavirus on to humans.

Despite suggestions that cats can transmit the virus between them and reports of dogs testing positive in Hong Kong, experts say there is yet to be a single case of people catching it from their furry companions. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) similarly said ‘owners should not worry’ about contracting the disease from pets.

Nevertheless, animals are still being abandoned over the fears. Others have been left after owners succumb to the disease or can no longer afford to properly care for them due to money troubles stemming from the lockdown.

It has prompted the RSPCA to launch a new campaign aimed at encouraging pet owners to create an emergency care plan in case they become infected with Covid-19.

The charity is also calling on people to place a sticker in their window alerting passers-by that there are animals inside the home should they be taken to hospital.

An investigation by Sun Online revealed how the RSPCA was called after a two-year-old poodle was discovered in someone’s garden after being thrown over a seven-foot fence.

The charity also responded to calls about a rabbit which lost the use of its back legs after being dumped in a cardboard box, as well as two eight-week-old kittens left in a cat carrier alongside a canal.

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Dr Angel Almendros, from Hong Kong’s City University, told the BBC last month that ‘there isn’t a single case of a pet dog or cat infecting a human with Covid-19’.

An RSPCA spokesperson told the Sun that although ‘many people are finding their pets a real source of comfort’ and ‘cases of abandonment are slightly lower than usual’, it is ‘heartbreaking’ that some are still being dumped during the crisis.

They added: ‘In most cases we don’t know why pets are abandoned but it’s really important to remind people that there is no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 can be passed from pets to people.

‘There is lots of help and support out there for anyone else struggling to get animal food, with health or behavioural issues, exercising their pets or managing to keep children safe around pets. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help.’

Since lockdown began the charity has received more than 1,600 abandonment incidents reported to its cruelty hotline – roughly 40 per day.

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Rescuers spent four hours digging a lamb out of drainpipe after it got stuck and couldn’t get out.

The RSPCA was called by the fire brigade to Durham last Sunday to rescue the lamb, after a farmer realised it was stuck.

Animal collection officer Emily Welch travelled to a field off Thornley Road to help the lamb.

She said: ‘There was a broken manhole cover on the farmland which had been filled with tyres and wood.

‘Somehow, the lamb had managed to get himself between this and has fallen down the manhole shaft and into the narrow drainage pipe 2ft below.

‘The farmer noticed the lamb’s mum stood at the top of the hole looking lost and he couldn’t spot her baby. When he went to investigate he heard the little lamb bleating from down the drain and contacted County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.

‘There was no way of reaching the little lamb in the pipe as it was too narrow so we had to dig down to him.

‘Thankfully the farmer’s friend brought his digger and we started digging. We ended up having to dig four separate holes to different sections of the pipe before we could locate him 15m into the pipe and free him.

‘He was very cold, a little shaken and quite stiff after his ordeal but, thankfully, he wasn’t injured so we cleaned him up and returned him to his mum who had been waiting nearby and keeping a very close eye on us!

‘It was lovely to see him bounding off towards his mum and snuggling up to her for some milk. What a rescue mission.’

The RSPCA is fundraising to help continue delivering its emergency animal services through the coronavirus crisis.

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The RSPCA has received around 1,600 reports of abandoned animals since the start of lockdown – averaging around 40 a day.

And since the country went into lockdown on March 23, the RSPCA has received reports of 815 abandoned dogs.

Staffies are the most likely to be abandoned with 15% of calls relating to the breed.

The charity has released the figures as part of its coronavirus emergency appeal, launched to keep its rescue teams out on the road rescuing animals in need during the pandemic.

Some of the animals rescued by the RSPCA have included Staffie Zena, who was ‘howling with pain’ when she was found abandoned in Oldbury with her mouth bandaged shut and severe leg injuries.

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She was taken to Birmingham Animal Hospital on April 24 and is now recovering.

Lurcher Harvey was rescued by RSPCA inspector Emily Astilberry at the beginning of April, after being abandoned by his owners when they were evicted from their home in King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

He was left in a messy, concrete garden and the landlord took care of him as best he could until he had to self-isolate so called the RSPCA.

And two-year-old toy poodle Red was found in a garden in Ilford, London, after being tossed over a 7ft fence.

She was collected on April 5 and rushed to Harmsworth Animal Hospital. She was underweight, covered in sores, heavily matted and had an infected eye.

Red is now being taken care of in a foster home while officers investigate.

Since lockdown began, RSPCA rescuers have dealt with more than 31,000 incidents of animal cruelty, neglect and suffering animals which need help.

It has received more than 112,000 calls from members of the public and there are now more than 4,600 animals in RSPCA care.

The RSPCA has reminded the public there is no evidence to suggest that dogs can carry or pass Covid-19 to humans, and are urging pet owners not to panic at this time and not to abandon their dogs. 

A spokesperson for the charity said: ‘Although much of the country is in lockdown, sadly there are still thousands of animals who need our help, including abandoned pets.

‘Many people are finding their pets are a real source of comfort in these anxious times and thankfully cases of abandonment are slightly lower than usual but it’s heartbreaking that some beautiful pets like Red are being dumped during this crisis.

‘In most cases we don’t know why pets are abandoned but it’s really important to remind people that there is no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 can be passed from pets to people.

‘There is lots of help and support out there for anyone else struggling to get animal food, with health or behavioural issues, exercising their pets or managing to keep children safe around pets. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help.’

RSPCA rescuers have been designated key workers by the government, but vital funding is needed to help the charity’s frontline staff continue its work across England and Wales.

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A fox somehow managed to get its head stuck into a car wheel.

The unlucky – or lucky, depending on how you look at it – animal had peered inside the alloy wheel and then been unable to get back out.

Thankfully the RSPCA along with firefighters managed to rescue him using special equipment to cut through the metal.

He was spotted in a garden of Addiscombe Court Road in Croydon, south London, on May 21.

The homeowners had been storing a spare wheel, and called the RSPCA for help as the fox was desperately trying to free himself.

They tried to do something themselves by applying grease to his neck to help him pull his head through, but this wasn’t working and the fox was becoming more distressed.

Kirstie said: ‘This poor fox was really struggling to free himself and was terrified, so I knew we had to act quickly.

‘His neck had swollen from where he’d been desperately tugging his head, so there was no way he was going to pull himself free.

‘Thankfully the London Fire Brigade were able to spare a bit of time to come out to the home, and while we waited, I offered him some water which he was grateful for!

‘The fire officers used special equipment to cut through the metal and free the fox. I checked the fox over and as he wasn’t injured I was able to release him.

‘I’m so grateful to the London Fire Brigade for sparing some of their time to help this fox – he really wouldn’t have been able to free himself without help from us all.’

The RSPCA urged people to keep a safe distance away and call the RSPCA for help and advice on 0300 1234 999 if they find a wild animal in distress.

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A mum arrived home to find her pet Staffie beheaded and dumped on the doorstep.

The RSPCA and police have launched an investigation into the gruesome killing on May 19.

Andrea Jarvis made the horrific discovery after getting home from work and calling her dog Hollie to come for her tea. But when the black-and-white Staffordshire Bull Terrier failed to appear she went to look for her and found her decapitated body on the garden patio.

Hollie had been partially beheaded and her front leg was almost completely severed, but mystery surrounds how she was killed and where.

Andrea, a carer who lives with her 18-year-old son Jack, said: ‘I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing – Hollie was dead and her body had been left cut up in such a terrible way.

‘We have had Hollie for 13 years and she was such a loving dog I can’t believe this has happened.

‘When I couldn’t find her I expected she was curled up on my bed – nothing could prepare me for what I found – it was horrific and so upsetting.

‘I am struggling to sleep at night now it has been terrible and my other dog Maise is missing Hollie too.

‘I just hope someone will come forward to the RSPCA so we can find the person responsible.’

Andrea, from Bilston, Wolverhampton, initially believed she could have been taken from the garden and used for dog fighting, but vets have found no evidence the injuries were caused by another dog

In a Facebook post at the time, the family wrote: ‘My lovely dog Hollie was found dead tonight, head decapitated and also missing a front leg.

‘No blood anywhere, she was covered in mud but found on a dry patio area, with no mud anywhere to be found in the garden.

‘Best guess is she’s been used for dog fighting, taken from the garden then returned.

‘Police have been informed, I’ve taken her to the vets tonight to be cremated, worst thing was being asked by the police to take pictures of her and her injuries so they can pass all information onto the RSPCA.

‘No words can describe how I feel right now, some people will say “it’s only a dog”, but she was family.

‘We had her 13 years, she was soft as a bag full of kittens, all she wanted was to be fussed, loved and fed. You couldn’t have asked for a better dog. R.I.P. Hollie.’

The animal welfare charity and West Midlands Police are now calling for anyone with vital information to come forward.

RSPCA inspector Adam Bailey, said: ‘We do not know why or how Hollie was killed but we believe she was taken from the garden – where she was left as Andrea went to work – and killed elsewhere.

‘There was no blood in the garden which suggests the attack happened elsewhere.

‘Her head was almost decapitated and her front leg had been severed and was hanging on by a piece of skin.

‘It seems she was then brought back and dumped on the patio.

‘The injuries sustained are horrendous and this has come as a huge shock to her owners.

‘We are keen to trace anyone who may have information about what happened to Hollie or to anyone who saw anything suspicious to call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.’

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: ‘We were alerted to an incident in Vernon Road, Wolverhampton, at 6.45pm on Tuesday May 19 and the discovery of the resident’s pet dog dead in the back garden.

‘A joint investigation has been launched alongside the RSPCA.

‘At this stage the injuries are not believed to be consistent with a dog or fox attack; the dog’s body will be examined by vets in a bid to shed light on how the animal died.’

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A cat had a lucky escape after being shot with an arrow that missed its vital organs and spine by just millimetres.

Vets removed the arrow but Shearer has been left scarred and too frightened to go outside.

The RSPCA has now launched an investigation into the ‘callous’ crossbow attack.

Shearer’s owners, who named him after the footballer, said they worryingly found other arrows around Gunton Avenue in Coventry, where children often play.

Shearer returned home last Monday, June 8, and his owners noticed a crossbow bolt sticking out of him.

They rushed him to the vets for emergency treatment. ‘It was absolutely shocking and I was so upset,’ his owner who wanted to stay anonymous said.

‘I scooped him up and rushed him to the vets. They said he was extremely lucky to survive the attack because the arrow had missed vital organs and his spine.

‘I just can’t believe it, why anyone would do something so awful to a lovely animal?’

The owner added: ‘It seems someone is going round firing a crossbow and who knows what pain and suffering that could cause to either animals or people.’

Vet Lisa Apted said treated Shearer had a small circular wound at the back of his leg, and she could feel the point of a crossbow bolt poking out above his kneecap.

‘An x-ray showed there was a crossbow bolt in his body, and we operated immediately to remove it,’ she said.

‘He was in shock and in a lot of pain, but the bolt luckily managed to miss a lot of vital structures. Had the bolt been on the inside of his leg, he could have suffered nerve damage.’

RSPCA Inspector Claire Davey is appealing for anyone with information to come forward and wants to reassure the public they can remain anonymous.

She said: ‘Unfortunately, attacks like this are not as rare as we would like.

‘Cats and wildlife are more susceptible to these incidents simply because they are out in the open with no one to protect them.

‘We’d also like to remind people that anyone caught deliberately harming an animal can be up to six months in prison and an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.’

Anyone with information about the incident should call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.

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Meet Beanz – the adorable baby seal who is lucky to be alive after being separated from his mother at just two weeks old.

The tiny pup, who has now been taken in by a wildlife centre to be hand-reared, was found alone, weak and undernourished on a beach.

He weighed just 7.85kg – but the usual weight for newborn seal pups ranges from eight to 12 kilos.

The common seal has been taken to RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, where he has been named Beanz and is being looked after.

Alison Charles, manager at East Winch, said: ‘This pup is lucky he was found when he was.

‘We believe he had been separated from his mum and would have perished without her milk. He had lost a lot of weight and looked like a bag of bones.

‘We are doing all we can to make sure he is fully rehabilitated and recovered before being released back into the wild.

‘We’ve named him Beanz as this year’s theme for common seals is beans, pulses and rice and it really suits him!

‘He’s our first common seal pup at the centre this season so we thought Beanz was an appropriate name for him.

‘He’s currently being fed on a diet of liquidised herring which we like to call “fish soup”.’

The wildlife centre is currently caring for Beanz and over 300 other wild animals at this time, with increasingly stretched resources.

And they anticipate Beanz will not be the only abandoned seal they take in this summer.

Alison added: ‘In recent years we have taken in a huge number of sick and injured seals so we are expecting the same for 2020.

‘This means that vast resources are in demand here at East Winch to help us treat Beanz and the other pups that we will care for this season.’

The RSPCA warns it’s important the public never approach seals and keep any dogs well away and on a lead, as these are wild animals and can have a nasty bite.

The RSPCA also advises the public not to approach pups they see, but monitor them from a safe distance for a 24-hour period, to see if the mother returns.

If not, a rescue team should be called using the 24-hour emergency line on 0300 1234 999.

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An investigation is underway after four cats were poisoned to death with antifreeze on the same street.

Benji, two, Pixie, seven, Rupert, eight, and 12-year-old Syclla all died between Thursday and Sunday last week in the Derbyshire town of Swadlincote.

Their killer is still thought to be on the loose and the RSPCA has launched a probe to bring justice to the three families on Patina Way to whom the cats belonged.

Vets have carried out tests on the cats and are confident they were poisoned to death with antifreeze.

RSPCA deputy chief inspector Beth Boyd said the cats were rushed to the vets after suddenly falling ill but they all died or had to be put to sleep.

She said: ‘At this time of year we wouldn’t expect anyone to be using antifreeze in their cars so we are concerned that someone is deliberately putting this poisonous substance down to intentionally harm cats.

‘Cats are attracted to the smell and taste of antifreeze but ingesting the additive – used to stop liquids used in car engines from freezing – can be fatal, even if it’s only a very small amount.

‘It is an offence to intentionally poison or cause harm to an animal in this way and we are taking this matter very seriously.

‘I’ve now launched an investigation and would ask anyone with any information to come forward and contact us in confidence by calling 0300 123 8018.

‘Anyone who is prosecuted of animal welfare offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 faces a maximum punishment of up to six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.’

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People are being warned to safely dispose of their face masks after a seagull became trapped in one for more than a week. 

The RSPCA say the gull, found in Essex, could be the first of many victims as covering your face becomes mandatory in shops from Friday. 

Staff at a car showroom in Chelmsford called for help after seeing the bird struggling to move. 

It had been spotted walking with difficulty on several occasions and became rooted to the same spot for hours on Saturday.

RSPCA inspector Adam Jones said: ‘I went out to catch him and when he tried to hop away he would stumble and fall. 

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‘As soon as I caught him it was clear to see why as the poor thing had a disposable Covid face mask tangled around both legs. 

‘It’s clear the mask was there for some time and the elastic straps had tightened around his legs as his joints were swollen and sore.’

The young bird was later taken to the specialist team at South Essex Wildlife Hospital where staff managed to cut the mask off. 

Adam added: ’Thankfully, he’s been doing well and is being monitored closely. They’ve now released him out into an aviary with other gulls and, when the group is ready, they’ll all be released together.

‘I’m concerned that this gull could be the first of many victims now that face masks are the norm.’

The World Health Organisation recommends disposable masks are thrown away after every use or when they become damp. 

They are made from non-recyclable materials – often layers of plastics – raising fears about their environmental impact.

A report by UCL’s Plastic Waste Innovation Hub has found that if every person in the UK used one single-use face mask each day for a year, it would create 66,000 tonnes of waste. 

Covering your face is already mandatory on public transport and will be necessary in shops too by the end of this week. 

Globally we are thought to be using 129 billion face masks and 65 billion plastic gloves every month.

Adam said: ‘I’d appeal to all members of the public to ensure they dispose of their face masks and disposable gloves – and all other types of litter – properly and responsibly, so that animals don’t get hurt.’

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A tiny kitten has been severely injured after it was thrown from the window of a moving car.

The tabby kitten, believed to be only ten to twelve weeks old, rolled several times and was left on the roadside to die.

Thankfully, the driver of the car behind saw what had happened and pulled over, despite initially thinking the animal was a piece of litter.

The kitten, now named Daisy, was taken to a nearby vet in Stoke-on-Trent for help, who called the RSPCA.

It happened around 11.55am on Saturday morning, with the dark blue car involved driving along Audley Road towards Alsager when the kitten was thrown.

The RSPCA is now appealing for witnesses to track down the culprit.

Inspector Caren Goodman-James said: ‘This is such a shocking incident. It is so upsetting to think anyone would consider doing this to an animal.

‘The poor kitten was seen hitting the road and rolled over a few times before stopping. The witness in the car behind had to swerve to avoid hitting her and initially thought she was a piece of rubbish that had been thrown out of the car.

‘It was only when the kitten moved her head up did they realise it was an animal and stopped their car to help.

‘We are so grateful to the driver that stopped to help poor Daisy. This poor kitten was just thrown to the kerb like a piece of rubbish. I have dealt with incidents of animals being dumped and abandoned before but this is extreme. It is very lucky that this little kitten survived.

‘The vet is hopeful that Daisy will pull through but the next 36 hours are crucial. She has a pull injury to her tail which means her tail will need to be amputated and she has a lower jaw fracture and head trauma.

‘There may be more damage but until she is fully stable we won’t know the full extent of her injuries. 

‘We are hopeful there are other people who know what happened or have footage of it which could help us track down the person that did this to poor Daisy.

‘The car was on Audley Road just before the junction with Merelake Road and travelling towards Alsager  from the A500 junction when Daisy was thrown out of the window.’

The RSPCA said they are bracing for for more animals to be abandoned this summer as lockdown is eased and people have less time, as well as due to the coronavirus pandemic taking a bit on finances.

During three months since lockdown began, the RSPCA has received reports about 3,492 abandoned animals – about 40 calls a day – including 1,165 cats.

If anyone has any information about how Daisy came to be abandoned, please contact the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

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Four kittens were found abandoned down a country lane after possibly being thrown out of a car in yesterday’s scorching heatwave.

The RSPCA was called by the police yesterday after a cat carrier was found dumped in Curtis Mill Lane in Romford.

Temperatures had reached 35°C by the time they were rescued and they may easily have died inside a carrier in the heat.

Animal welfare officer Siobhan Trinnaman said: ‘I am appalled that these kittens have been deliberately abandoned especially as it was 35 degrees where I picked them up.

‘We are just grateful that they were found when they were and that the caller waited with them. The kittens could have easily died in this box in this heat, the poor things.’

The kittens were found by a member of the public who had spotted the black and cream coloured cat carrier on the side of the road.

The RSPCA was told that from the way the carrier was found the finder believes it could have been thrown out of a car.

Siobhan added: ‘The poor little mites, they were so thin their spines were prominent and they are full of flu and all had sticky gunky eyes, so I took them straight to the RSPCA Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital where they will be kept in isolation while they are treated.

‘They are very poorly and we just hope they are strong enough to pull through.’

The four kittens are believed to be around 12 weeks old, with three girls and one boy. Two are white and two tabbies.

The RSPCA is appealing for information and urges anyone who may know who owns the kittens, or has any information in regards to this incident, to contact the charity’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

The RSPCA has continued to care for a rescue animals throughout the coronavirus pandemic. You can support the charity here.

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An investigation has been launched after the body of a ‘healthy’ German Shepherd was found dumped in the park inside a Royal Mail parcel sack.

RSPCA Inspector Victoria Reid was called to Tinsley Meadows Park in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on August 1 following the discovery of the dog beside a bin. It is not yet clear how the animal died.

Ms Reid said the pet was not micro-chipped, but was wearing a black collar fastened with a chain with no identification tag.

She described how the dog had been ‘stuffed inside a large grey parcel sack’, with just her ear ‘poking out of the opening’.

Ms Reid continued: ‘I collected the body and cut open the sack to examine the dog but there were no obvious injuries on her body and no clear cause of death.

‘She was bleeding heavily from the mouth and I suspect she hasn’t been
dead long as the blood was fairly fresh.’

The RSPCA is now urging anyone with further information about the dog to get in touch. Ms Reid has also been making enquiries in the local area.

She told Yorkshire Live: ‘It’s incredibly sad to find this beautiful, seemingly
healthy dog dumped in such a way.

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‘She’s in a really good condition so it’s unclear how she perished and whether it was in suspicious circumstances but I’d certainly like to speak to her owners.

‘It was incredibly difficult to lift the sack alone so I believe it would have taken two people to carry her body into the park and I’d like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the park before the discovery.’

Anyone with information about the dog or her owner should call the RSPCA’s inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

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Two puppies rescued from a cardboard box dumped in a lay-by on one of the hottest days of the year have died.

The spaniels were found by a cyclist in Essex on Saturday – when temperatures reached 30C – along with a third puppy that was already dead.

The RSPCA said the dogs could have been imported from abroad to sell and were abandoned when they became unwell. The charity said they were microchipped with a Hungarian chip which isn’t registered in the UK, suggesting they were victims of the ‘cruel puppy trade’.

Samantha Garvey, the RSPCA’s chief inspector for Essex, said the animals were killed by suspected parvovirus – a highly contagious disease that causes severe vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.

The cyclist who found the puppies, thought to be about eight weeks old, said he spotted them when one ‘peeked’ out of the box.

Ms Garvey called the case ‘horrific’, adding it was ‘possible’ the animals were from a puppy farm.

‘We see it a lot. Dogs are brought across because they are cheaper to source and import for sale from Europe than they are in the UK,’ she said.

‘It’s a problem of supply and demand. A lot of people are off work [because of the coronavirus pandemic] and think it’s the perfect time to get a puppy.

‘I would just ask that people really do their research and not agree to buy any animals who they have reason to believe are sick.’

Anyone with information about how the spaniels came to be dumped by the side of the road is asked to contact the RSPCA.

Earlier this year Dog’s Trust launched a campaign to raise awareness about ‘dogfishing’ scams.

This describes the horrific reality behind online puppy ads, with ‘healthy’ dogs often found malnourished, thirsty or kept in tiny cages away from their mum before being sold.

The charity said thousands of people are being duped into buying illegal animals online without realising the conditions they are kept in.

Dogs Trust say there are a number of signs that all might not be what it seems and issued the following advice:

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