The seal – named Dandy – appears to have clambered up a riverbank (Picture: Lincolnshire Police)
A shocked homeowner woke up to find a seal lounging on her patio.
The woman spotted the adventurous female – named Dandy by locals – sprawled out on her lawn in Billinghay, Lincolnshire.
RSPCA rescuers were called out and, after making sure the amphibious mammal was in good health, returned her to the water.
Dandy previously made a splash when she clambered onto another woman’s paddleboard during a lesson in Boston.
Dandy was sprawled out on the woman’s lawn (Picture: Lincolnshire Police)
She was later safely returned to the water (Picture: Lincolnshire Police)
PC Martin Green, from the local force’s wildlife team, said he had received a call from a friend saying ‘his mum had woken up and found the seal on the patio’.
Dandy appears to have scrambled up a riverbank before slipping into the garden.
The RSPCA said they were alerted by the police and, after checking Dandy over, released her back into the water where she ‘happily swam off’.
‘It’s so important people know it is never okay to abandon an animal’ (Pictures: RSPCA)
A search is on to find out who ‘callously’ dumped a pair of adorable ducklings in a wheelie bin.
The poor birds were found tied up in separate plastic bags with sawdust in the containers at the foot of a woman’s house in Bolton.
After hearing noises she opened it to find two blue carrier bags which were moving.
The woman was stunned to find two baby ducks inside, and alerted the RSPCA.
The charity’s inspector Catherine Byrnes went to the scene and the ducklings were taken to its Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre near Nantwich in Cheshire.
She said: ‘These poor ducklings were really lucky to be found when they were, as they were obviously in danger of suffocating.
‘They were found in a carrier bag each and there was some sawdust inside, so have clearly been abandoned as unwanted pets.
‘It’s so important people know it is never okay to abandon an animal – and to callously dump them in a bin to suffer a lingering death is just terrible.
The cute ducks are recovering at a wildlife centre before they’ll be rehomed (Picture: RSPCA)
They were found in plastic bags in a woman’s wheelie bin (Picture: RSPCA)
‘These were domestic ducks, not wild birds. If people are struggling to care for an animal, there is so much they can do to look for help – but abandonments are never the answer.
‘Treating an animal like that can also constitute an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.’
The ducklings are staying at the wildlife centre until they’re ready to be rehomed.
The RSPCA encouraged anyone with information about who dumped the birds to contact them.
Suki has had a tough start (Picture: Jam Press/RSPCA)
A cat who had surgery to remove her eye and ear after she was abandoned is looking for a new home to live out her twilight years.
The RSPCA has issued an appeal to help find a home for 19-year-old Suki – who is 92 in cat years.
She arrived at the RSPCA’s Harmsworth Animal Hospital in April with a terrible ear wound.
The pet was taken into a foster home in north London before undergoing major surgery earlier this month, which involved removing one of her ears and one eye.
Staff had traced her owners as she was microchipped, but they said Suki had moved out two years earlier and had been mainly living outside, being fed by neighbours.
As they didn’t want her back, the two organisations are trying desperately to place sweet Suki in a purr-fect home.
Sweet Suki sometimes needs help to keep herself clean (Picture: Jam Press/RSPCA)
Georgina Holding, from RSPCA Friern Barnet Adoption Centre – who organised Suki’s transfer to the foster home – said: ‘When Suki was brought into us she had an awful ear wound and vets had to remove her ear canal and outer ear.
‘Due to complications during the operation, vets also had to remove one of her eyes when they found an ulcer.
‘Suki’s health check has been good and all of her test results have come back as normal so, despite her age, she is in good general health. She is sometimes stiff and struggles to walk and needs help to keep her face clean.
She was initially abandoned for spending too much time outside (Picture: Jam Press/RSPCA)
‘She’s a lovely, sweet cat who loves to be stroked and will purr when she’s getting attention.
‘We’d love to find her a relaxing, loving home where she can live out her days – however many she has left – in comfort.’
The pet doesn’t like to be in the car so staff are hoping to find a local home to minimise travel time and avoid her becoming too stressed.
The RSPCA are seeking an adult-only home ideally without other pets.
If you think Suki could be the perfect companion for you, visit her rehoming page here.
Andrew MacKay was jailed at Blackpool Magistrates Court (Picture: PA)
A man who killed his pet dog after inflicting ‘some of the worst injuries’ the RSPCA had ever seen in ‘barbaric and torturous’ attacks has been jailed.
Andrew MacKay left Bonzo to suffer from at least 25 rib fractures for four months, Blackpool Magistrates Court heard.
They grey crossbreed also had an eye socket and cheek fracture, a ruptured windpipe and injuries to his face after four incidents in Lancashire two years ago.
MacKay, 30, took his pet to a vets in Garstang on December 23, 2019, where he claimed he had tripped over the dog and caused the injuries with his 18 stone weight.
But the vet – who was unable to save Bonzo’s life desperate attempts to resuscitate him – suspected that the pet had died as a result of abuse and reported it to the RSPCA.
Further investigations later revealed the dog had suffered so many fractures that vets were unable to determine exactly how many he had suffered, the court heard.
During sentencing, the magistrate described the attacks as ‘barbaric and torturous’ and said Bonzo’s treatment was ‘prolonged and deliberate’.
Bonzo had some of the worst injuries the RSPCA had ever seen (Picture: RSPCA/SWNS)
They added that Mackay’s partner Nicole Logan was aware of the injuries but failed to seek veterinary treatment for the dog, who was left suffering.
MacKay, of Poulton-le-Fylde, was found guilty of four animal welfare charges and was jailed for 18 weeks.
Logan, 27 and also of Poulton-le-Fylde, was found guilty of two animal welfare offences and handed a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
The pair were both banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
Inspector Will Lamping, who attended the address with the police, said: ‘The injuries caused to Bonzo were some of the worst I’ve seen.
‘The image of his broken body will stay with me for a long time.’
During the investigation, Logan told officers that Bonzo had punctured his lung while running through bushes.
MacKay then contacted the RSPCA himself and claimed that he had injured Bonzo by standing on him and falling over while Logan was at work.
But an independent veterinary expert told the court that the injuries could not have been caused by a fall but that Bonza had been subjected to a series of abusive episodes.
They concluded that the attacks, which Bonzo suffered on four separate occasions, were most likely caused by blunt force trauma.
The poor pet may have been neglected for years (Picture: RSPCA)
A dog found dumped and crawling with maggots was so badly neglected she was mistaken for a pile of rags.
The pet was put to sleep to end her suffering after two children spotted her and said ‘I think it is dead’ in Thirlmere Park in Liverpool.
They drew the attention of a woman who drove her to a vet at about 7pm on Tuesday, July 27.
Her hair was found to be terribly matted with faeces in it and her fur had grown into long and heavy pieces which looked like extra legs.
The dog breed could not be confirmed due to the state she was in, but she was believed to be a female shih tzu.
Vets also failed to establish her age because they could not open her mouth to check her teeth due to the matted fur covering her face.
The RSPCA said she had ‘endured years of suffering’ and vowed to find the owner responsible.
The park walker who found her, speaking anonymously, said: ‘I just saw two young children saying “I think it is dead” which drew my attention to something but I had no idea it was a dog as it looked like a pile of rags.
The dog was extremely unwell and had to be put down (Picture: RSPCA)
‘I wrapped her in a blanket and tried to give her some water – she was breathing but not moving.
‘I called the vets and they told me to take her straight in. I actually thought she had passed away in my car on the way.
‘I was so upset and shaking. I still feel sick and tearful thinking about this poor dog – it was horrific. I really hope someone knows who is responsible.’
RSPCA inspector Lisa Lupson said: ‘This dog has clearly endured years of suffering and I have never seen such a terrible case of matting in my time as an RSPCA inspector.
‘Sadly the photograph speaks a thousand words and the dog even looks as though it has more than four legs but it is matted fur which has grown into long and heavy pieces.
‘You can just make out her eye near the green buttons on the vet’s table.
A woman who found the dog immediately drove her to a veterinary surgery (Picture: RSPCA)
‘There were maggots crawling on the fur which could have been from a wound underneath the mats or from all the faeces which had built up in her coat over a prolonged period.
‘She was in an absolutely horrific state and I have found it terribly upsetting to deal with this case.
‘I am now hoping someone will know the person who owned this dog and allowed her to suffer so terribly before callously dumping her to die a lingering death.
‘I am just so grateful to the person who found her and took her to the vets and was able to give her some comfort before she passed away.
‘I am also keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area prior to when she was found.’
The security dogs were kept shut in the boot of a Vauxhall Astra in Ilford, east London, as temperatures hit 24C (Picture: RSPCA)
A man who left two dogs to die in a car on a hot summer’s day has been spared jail.
Richard Armstrong, 47, said he left the security dogs in the boot of his Vauxhall Astra because neighbours had complained about them barking.
Temperatures were reaching 24C when people noticed the dogs in a kennel inside the vehicle in Ilford, east London, and alerted the police.
Warning: This article contains pictures and footage you may find distressing
Officers found one of the dogs already dead in the boot, while the second had collapsed but was still breathing.
Armstrong said he kept a fan running in the car to try and cool down Hector and Yardie, both Belgian Malinois used for security work, but there was no evidence of any water bowl.
Hector was found lying on his side, with flies around his mouth and a strong smell of urine and faeces.
Yardie was rushed to a vet for emergency surgery but she later had to be put down.
One of the security dogs had already died and was found lying on its side, surrounded by flies (Picture: RSPCA)
The other dog was still breathing and was rushed for emergency surgery, but she couldn’t be saved (Picture: RSPCA)
The RSPCA said the kennel was just about large enough for one dog to stand, but there was no room for them to move around.
Footage showed Armstrong trying to explain to officers about his neighbours’ complaints and the fan in his car.
RSPCA inspector Kate Ford was called to the scene on April 20, 2019, and launched an investigation.
The two security dogs were both Belgian Malinois (File picture: Getty)
She said: ‘[Armstrong] said that he’d left the boot door open but that the dogs tended to “jump up and down when they heard any noise” and that this must have caused the boot to close, leaving the dogs shut inside in the heat.
‘He also thought the fan must have stopped.’
At Ilford Magistrates’ Court, Armstrong was found guilty of one count of causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay a total of £840.
A trio of tiny kittens who were left for dead in a dog waste bin were saved by people out walking their dogs.
Had the little babies not been found, rescuers say they would have died from hunger and thirst, trapped in a foul metal tomb in St Austell, Cornwall.
At just three weeks old, the kittens were dumped in the smelly bin the Duporth area before a horrified pair of dog walkers worked together to carefully get them out.
The kittens were then taken to the local Sally’s Cat Rescue sanctuary.
Sally, who has run the sanctuary for 20 years, says: ‘A lady was out walking her dog and went to put some dog poo in the bin and to her surprise she could hear crying.
‘There was three kittens in there – she managed to retrieve them.
Poor little guys. (Picture: Sally’s Cat Rescue / SWNS.com)
They’re still too young to be adopted. (Picture: Sally’s Cat Rescue / SWNS.com)
‘She called us, and we went and collected the kittens.
‘They were shaken up – they are between three and four weeks, covered in fleas, but other than that in generally good health.
‘We don’t know how long they’ve been in there, we’re guessing they’d been dumped perhaps the night before, so maybe 12 hours, 24 hours.
‘Obviously with this weather, it’s warm, it’s dry, it’s sticky, to me that wasn’t somebody dumping them hoping they’d be found, it was somebody dumping them for a more sinister reason.
‘If anybody knows anything, we would happily take the kittens’ mum, they can drop her to us anonymously, they can leave her outside my front door.
Sally said: ‘They are between three and four weeks, covered in fleas, but other than that in generally good health.’ (Picture: Sally’s Cat Rescue / SWNS.com)
Look at that face. (Picture: Sally’s Cat Rescue / SWNS.com)
‘Anything that means we can reunite them because these kittens aren’t really old enough to be without a mum so we’re having to hand rear them.
‘What we’re saying to people is we’re always here, if you’re that desperate ring us, dump them on my doorstep if you have to, on the vet’s doorstep but there’s nothing that means these three kittens deserve to lose their life.’
Sally and the rest of her team care for kittens that come into their care until they’re 11 weeks old, and are vaccinated and neutered.
While she’s had lots of offers from people who want to take the kittens in, they’re simply too young for the time being.
The RSPCA has warned that some people who bought animals as a source of comfort over lockdown could be growing tired of them.
The RSPCA has warned that people who bought animals as a source of comfort over lockdown could be growing tired of them (Picture: Sally’s Cat Rescue / SWNS.com)
The charity’s Norfolk West Branch’s cattery is currently full, with 14 cats and eight kittens, and they have a waiting list of more waiting to come into their care that’s still growing.
Carl Saunders, general manager at the branch’s rehoming centre, adds: ‘We really are inundated with cats and kittens at the moment.
‘It is concerning, and we hope this isn’t the start of something bigger.
‘Fortunately, we still have members of the public contacting us to adopt the cats – but it is a case as soon as one goes out for rehoming, there is another one filling their pen.
‘We just wanted to highlight this issue and also remind owners the importance of getting their cats neutered so that they avoid having accidental litters.’
The charity has raised concerns that, while many families no-doubt considered the long-term impact of taking on a pet over lockdown, others may not have been thinking about what it would be like post-lockdown.
If you’re thinking of getting a pet, it’s vitally important to do your research and be sure you can commit to caring for an animal.
‘Sadly, we know that as animals are so readily and easily available to buy online, it can be very easy for people to buy a new pet on a whim and that often means that, within a few months, they quickly realise that they cannot cope with them and seek to give them up or sell them on,’ they say.
This was the dramatic moment police and RSPCA officers smashed an illegal bird trading ring being run out of an east London pub.
CCTV footage from The Bell in Leytonstone shows several men huddled in the beer garden desperately scatter as officers file in through the front door.
They can be seen hiding cages containing canaries and goldfinches underneath benches before climbing over walls to evade arrest.
Officers found 40 cages while simultaneous raids at three other addresses uncovered more than 270 birds in what investigators said was one of the biggest ever seizures of wild birds in the UK.
More than 270 birds were recovered in the operation (Picture: RSPCA/SWNS)
An RSPCA officer who led the investigation, but cannot be named for operational reasons, said: ‘When we went into the pub on February 2, 2019, we found a large group of men had congregated inside and outside in the beer garden, many carrying small bird cages.
‘We discovered 40 cages of wild birds including goldfinches, linnets and a siskin, as well as 27 canaries and mules (or crossbred birds).
‘We also executed warrants at three private addresses where we found a number of wild birds being kept illegally.
‘At one home, we discovered 190 wild birds being kept in cages, including 165 goldfinches.’
Nearly 200 wild birds were found at one address alone (Picture: RSPCA/SWNS)
The footage was released following the conviction and sentence of the last of 17 men prosecuted over their role in the illegal wildlife trade.
RSPCA chief inspector Will Mitchell said: ‘The illegal trapping and trading in wild birds has long been a problem. Taking a wild bird from its natural habitat and shutting it in a tiny cage is cruel.
‘These birds can suffer immeasurably, not only physically but also mentally, and they often die shortly after being captured.’
Police searched three other addresses where birds including Yellowhammers, Eurasian Siskins, Common Linnets and a Eurasian Bullfinch were discovered (Picture: RSPCA/SWNS)
Detective Constable Tara Wilson, of the Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit, said: ‘All wild British birds, their nests and eggs are protected in UK law.
‘Birds taken from the wild often get injured and do not live long after capture, due to the shock and trauma from free flying and then being confined to a cage.
‘I hope this case reassures the public we will do everything in our power to detect, deter and disrupt wildlife crime.’
All the wild birds were taken into care by the RSPCA, with more than 150 going to the charity’s Mallydams Wildlife Centre in East Sussex where staff set about rehabilitating and releasing them.
The crossbred birds and domestic species were all successfully rehomed.
A motorcyclist spotted the snake up the tree in Cambridgeshire (Picture: PA)
A huge python was discovered up a tree in Cambridgeshire – just like a scene from the Jungle Book.
RSPCA officer Justin Stubbs was called on Friday after a motorcyclist spotted the 10ft snake slithering across the road.
Mr Stubbs said: ‘I really could not believe it when I got there and saw this huge snake all the way up in the tree.
‘It was a scene a bit reminiscent of the Jungle Book.’
He called in the firefighters as it was too big and too far up the tree for him to tackle alone.
The team removed some tree branches until they had clear access to the snake.
They then slowly cut the branch the snake was on to let it fall gently into a tarpaulin.
It was like a scene from the Jungle Book (Picture: PA)
It was sent to a local specialist for a check-up while the RSPCA attempted to trace its owner.
Mr Stubbs said the snake may have been loose for some time as it was ‘cold and a little underweight’.
He added: ‘Unfortunately, this sort of thing isn’t unusual and we receive thousands of calls a year relating to reptiles, like snakes and lizards, who have either escaped or many of which have been abandoned by their owners.’
The huge snake may have been abandoned by its owner (Picture: PA)
The snake was safely caught in a tarpaulin (Picture: PA)
Snakes require a lot of care from their owners as they are unable to produce their own body heat, and rely on their environment to maintain body temperature.
‘Sadly snakes often also end up in our care as some owners don’t realise the commitment that is involved in meeting the needs of these animals and keeping them healthy,’ Mr Stubbs said.
‘This is why we’re always saying that people should do their research before taking on a pet.’
Tandie has had a bittersweet reunion with the RSPCA shelter that originally rehomed her (Picture: Triangle News)
A dog has been dubbed the unluckiest in Britain after returning to the rescue home she was adopted at 14 years ago.
Stray spaniel Tandie has gone back to the care of the RSPCA after her adopted owner died.
Tandie was brought into the centre in Cornwall with her mum, who had a broken jaw, and eight other pups.
Staff at the animal shelter found her a loving home when she was just a few months old in 2007.
But sadly Tandie could not be cared for after the death of her owner – leading to her bittersweet reunion with workers at the RSPCA in St Columb, near Newquay.
She has since developed a few ailments including being completely deaf and partially blind and is now looking for a quiet new home with a secure garden to spend the rest of her days.
An RSPCA spokesperson said: ‘We cared for Tandie 14 years ago and we still will today.
‘She was adopted from us as a puppy and had a wonderful life with the most incredible family.
Tandie when she was adopted in 2007, aged a few months old (Picture: RSPCA/Triangle News)
Tandie is looking for a quiet and caring home for the rest of her days (Picture: RSPCA/Triangle News)
‘But, sadly, they had to make a heartbreaking decision to sign her over to us following a death in the family.
‘Her years have caught up with her since we last took care of her.
‘She has very limited vision and is completely deaf. She also has arthritis, various lumps and bumps, and a skin condition which she has daily treatment for.
‘For these reasons, we’re looking for an end of life foster home locally to our centre so that we can continue to financially and medically support Tandie, and her fosterers, for the rest of her days.’
To offer Tandie a foster home, call RSPCA Cornwall on 01637 881455.
Firefighters had to chop down branches to get to the huge python, before it was safely caught and carried away in a tarpaulin.
The second snake was seen crossing a quiet country lane nearby.
Mr Stubbs said: ‘Having rescued last Friday’s python, I couldn’t believe it when the call came through to say there had been another found in almost exactly the same spot.
‘I’m afraid that’s no coincidence – it’s looking likely these poor animals were abandoned, or have escaped from the same place.
It was like a scene from the Jungle Book (Picture: PA)
The snake was safely caught in a tarpaulin (Picture: PA)
‘This second snake was extremely cold when he was found, very much thinner than the first python, which is suffering from a minor health condition.
‘Both snakes are now being looked after at a specialist facility and are under heat lamps to maintain a healthy body temperature.
‘It is really concerning to think that someone has kept these pythons, then might have decided to abandon them in this cruel and callous way.
‘I only hope that there are no more on the loose out there.
‘As well as the dangers of low temperatures, harvesting in the nearby fields could pose a real hazard to any snakes left out there.’
People in the area have been urged to stay vigilant for more snakes.
The RSPCA said they are unlikely to pose any danger to people but recommend you keep a safe distance if you spot one.
Katie Louise Oldridge was convicted of two animal welfare offences after the RSPCA found her dog Frank’s decomposing remains (Pictures: MEN Media)
A dog was discovered lying dead next to an empty tin of food after his negligent owner left him abandoned for more than a month.
Katie Louise Oldridge, who left Staffordshire bull terrier Frank to starve to death in her home, has been banned from keeping animals for life.
The kitchen floor in Meadowbank Road, Hull, where his lifeless body was laying was covered in a large amount of dried out faeces.
RSPCA inspector Jilly Dickinson, who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity, said: ‘The kitchen door had a baby gate in the frame.
‘I found a dog food tin on the kitchen worktop, which contained mouldy remains of food in the bottom of it, and an empty box of dog treats, which appeared to contain faeces.
‘There was an overwhelming smell of faeces and decomposing flesh in the property.’
As the inspector placed Frank’s body into an RSPCA evidence bag, a heap of live maggots dropped from his rotting head.
A vet report concluded that the terrier likely suffered for a number of weeks before his eventual death (Picture: RSPCA)
As an RSPCA inspector placed Frank’s body into an evidence bag, a heap of live maggots dropped from his rotting head (Picture: MEN Media)
Even more, Frank was so incredibly thin that Ms Dickinson said she could see all of his bones.
Oldridge was convicted of two animal welfare offences at Hull Magistrates’ Court on August 25 after the RSPCA found his decomposing remains.
Magistrates highlighted that this is ‘one of the worst, if not the worst’ acts of negligence they had heard as a bench.
The court was told how Oldridge had left a bowl of water but no food was found within Frank’s reach as she abandoned him between April 10 and May 14 last year.
A vet report concluded that the terrier likely suffered for a number of weeks before his eventual death.
The investigation found that his level of emaciation, coupled with the ingestion of foreign materials, suggested he ate anything he could to try and feed himself.
The court was told that Oldridge was dealing with personal problems before the offence and became dependent on alcohol (Picture: MEN Media)
The lack of fat and muscle tissue also suggested that his body had used up its internal energy resources rather than having adequate nutrition provided.
The court heard mitigation put forward that Oldridge was dealing with personal problems before the offence and became dependent on alcohol.
In addition to the lifetime disqualification from keeping all animals – which she cannot contest for a decade – Oldridge was sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for two years.
She was ordered to carry out 12 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 200 hours’ of unpaid work in the community, and was also ordered to pay £300 costs and a victim surcharge of £128.
While sentencing, magistrates commented: ‘We consider this to be a deliberate act of neglect – one of the worst, if not the worst, we have had the misfortune to hear as a bench of magistrates.
‘We are satisfied that this case justifies a sentence of imprisonment but for your guilty plea and lack of previous convictions in combination with your personal circumstances we are persuaded to suspend the sentence.’
The young stray animal suffered catastrophic head injuries when she was hit by a bus in Luton, Bedfordshire, on March 14.
Several passersby tried to help her, but she was terrified and ran away.
Animal care assistant Amy Hearne and volunteer Katie Duncan, who work at RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre in Hertfordshire, set out to find the injured cat by putting up posters, posting leaflets through doors and making appeals on social media.
Poor Trudie was eventually spotted in a yard on March 30 by a business owner who contacted the RSPCA. She was caught and rushed to a local vet.
Amy said: ‘Her facial injuries had left her unable to eat so she was weak and exhausted and must have been in so much pain.
‘She spent a week at the vets where she had life-saving surgery to remove her eye and wire her jaw back together. I can’t believe she’d survived as long as she had; she’s a little fighter.’
She lost an eye and needed her jaw wired – but is now ready for a new home (Picture: RSPCA)
She was named after the Patron Saint of Cats (Picture: RSPCA)
For a week she was fed via a tube while her jaw healed, and then she was moved to the Southridge cattery.
Staff gave her round-the-clock care to help her eat and move normally again, and now she is ready to find a new home.
Amy added: ‘Trudie is a miracle so we gave her a very special name; Trudie, after St Gertrude the Patron Saint of Cats.
‘We’ve spent months helping Trudie to recover and build up her strength and we’ve all fallen in love with her.
‘She’s cheeky, affectionate and playful; she’s such a character and will bring so much joy to the right family.
‘She’s still a youngster and absolutely loves to play but is also a real cuddlebug and will curl up on your lap within seconds of you sitting down.
She has been described as a ‘character’ but now needs a safe place to live (Picture: RSPCA)
The young stray animal suffered catastrophic head injuries when she was hit by a bus in Luton, Bedfordshire, on March 14 (Picture: RSPCA)
Vets and RSPCA staff were astonished she survived the accident (Picture: RSPCA)
‘She loves mealtimes – which isn’t surprising given everything she’s been through – and is very chatty; she’ll certainly let you know when she’s hungry! She may be a tiny cat but she has a big personality.’
Due to her missing eye, staff hope to find her a rural home away from busy roads and railways, where Trudie can enjoy access to a private, safe garden with lots of space to play and explore.
She’d like to be the only cat in the home and doesn’t want to live with dogs, but can go to a family with children aged eight and over.
Southridge deputy manager, Mona Jorgensen, said: ‘Trudie lost one of her eyes in the accident so she needs a home where she’ll be safe.
‘She is nervous around traffic and finds the sound of vehicles passing quite frightening so that’s why we’d like to find her a quiet, rural home where she’ll be able to enjoy the peace.
‘After everything this little miracle has been through, and overcome, we can’t wait to see her go off to a wonderful new home to live out her life being loved and spoiled.’
More information about Trudie can be found here but the animal centre asks prospective owners not to get in touch unless they meet the rehoming requirements outlined above.
Lily had difficulty breathing and moving, and even had sores on her belly because of how it dragged on the floor as she walked (Picture: RSPCA / SWNS.COM)
An over-fed and under-exercised dog who was so chunky she looked like a ‘balloon on legs’ has been rehomed by the RSPCA.
Jack Russell-esque Lily, eight, was found to weigh 13.7kg (2st), which is almost twice the weight a dog of her breed should be.
She had difficulty breathing and moving, and even had sores on her belly due to how it dragged on the floor as she walked.
Ultimately, her previous owner signed Lily over to the charity after they struggled to work with animal welfare inspectors to help the dog lose weight.
Since being put on a special dog diet, she has trimmed down to a healthier 7.7kg, and has a new lease on life with her new owner.
RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby said: ‘When I went to see her I couldn’t believe her size – she reminded me of a pufferfish. She was blown up like a balloon.
Lily before her weight loss (Picture: RSPCA / SWNS.COM)
‘She couldn’t even walk to my van, so I had to carry her.
‘Lily had no quality of life and was in real danger of dying prematurely from heart failure, so she really did need help.’
When she was taken to the RSPCA’s Lancashire East branch, she was put on a special dog-friendly diet by the team and given a number of small meals.
As the pooch lost weight, she was also able to exercise, which in turn helped her slim down even more until, in May, she was rehomed with an 80-year-old woman.
Jeanette Aimscough, animal centre manager at the branch, said: ‘Poor Lily looked like a balloon on legs when she first came to us, and she struggled to move.
‘She even had sores on her belly from it rubbing against the floor as she walked – she was struggling to breathe and panting.
‘But as she lost weight she began to enjoy playing – she was certainly a couch potato, and we were delighted when she went to her new home, and we know she is now enjoying a new lease of life and is much more active.’
Demi said: ‘She couldn’t even walk to my van, so I had to carry her’ (Picture: RSPCA / SWNS.COM)
Her new owner Ruth said: ‘My other pet dog died, so I was looking for an older companion and I came across Lily and was more than happy to adopt her.
‘She is a lovely girl – she likes to cuddle and sleep on the sofa – but has also found out how to run now so loves to have a little trot around.
‘She is still on a special diet and seems to be really happy and settled. She is a fantastic dog, and I am so pleased to care for her.’
Lily was put on a special diet (Picture: RSPCA / SWNS.COM)
Figures have indicated that nearly half of all cats and dogs are overweight.
RSPCA pet welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: “Pet obesity is a serious welfare issue affecting a large proportion of our pets today.
“Recent studies have suggested that around half of all pet dogs are overweight and this can cause serious health and welfare issues for them such as heart disease and diabetes.
She’s much happier now (Picture: RSPCA / SWNS.COM)
‘Obesity can affect all types of pets and the main cause is from eating too much or not exercising enough.
‘As a rough guide for dogs and cats – you should be able to see and feel the outline of their ribs without excess fat covering them.
‘Other tips are that you should be able to see and feel their waist, and it should be clearly visible when viewed from above.
‘Anyone who is concerned about their pet’s weight should speak to their vet for advice.’
The dogs were among 83 seized during the raid (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
A woman quizzed over the suspected theft of more than 60 dogs found at her home on a travellers’ site told police they were all hers.
Maria Lee, 47, and her partner Stacy Humphrys, 34, were arrested following a raid at the West Meadows site in Ipswich, Suffolk, on March 20 this year.
Officers found dozens of dogs, including cocker and spring spaniels, French bulldogs, dachshunds, and whippets crammed inside cages, kennels, and pens of up to five each around their plot.
They were among a total of 83 seized by police during the investigation.
Suffolk Magistrates’ Court heard that 17 of the dogs were later returned to people connected with the site after they were able to produce proof of ownership and there were no welfare concerns.
Lee insisted the other 67 were all her own and denied there had been any plot to sell them as lockdown pets.
But she agreed to sign the dogs, some of whom were in poor health after being kept in squalid conditions, over to Suffolk Police on August 7.
Stacy Humphrys was jailed for 14 weeks (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Pictures were released by Suffolk Police to try and find potential owners (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Maria Lee claimed she owned 67 of them (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
None of the dogs were confirmed as stolen (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Police raided the West Meadows travellers site in Ipswich, Suffolk (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Despite releasing images of them as part of a nationwide appeal to try and find any potential owners, none were identified as stolen.
They have all since been found new homes with the help of the RSPCA.
The court heard a German shepherd was found almost entirely shaven and visibly distressed standing on rotten hay in what was described by one inspector as a ‘pool of faeces’.
Five other dogs needed treatment for conditions including a large bladder tumour and an ear infection.
Lee admitted five counts of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs and failing to ensure the welfare of animals.
She was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and banned from keeping dogs for five years.
The court heard Humphrys was already banned from keeping animals and he pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a disqualification imposed following a previous conviction.
He was jailed for 14 weeks over the breach and handed a concurrent eight-week sentence for failing to be responsible for animals.
Both were ordered to pay £105 costs and a £128 surcharge.
Lee said she simply took too many dogs on (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
She denied running a commercial ring selling them (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Lee was spared jail (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Police found cages, kennels and pens containing up to five dogs each (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Police said at the time that all the dogs were believed to have been stolen (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Frank O’Toole, defending Lee, said she wished to ‘express great remorse’ and did not intend to cause any harm to any dogs in her care.
He added that she took on far too many dogs and ‘found it difficult to say no’ to accepting even more.
Mr O’Toole said that Lee, who had no previous convictions, ‘did not know how many dogs she had’ and believed she kept around 30.
There was no evidence that she was selling any dogs in a commercial enterprise, he added.
Steven Dyble, defending Humphrys, said he had returned to the travellers’ site following his release from prison and became involved with caring for the dogs due to Lee’s ill health.
He said: ‘It was believed it was some kind of Aladdin’s cave of stolen dogs. But there is no evidence at all that any of the dogs recovered from that site had been stolen.’
He added that most of the dogs were found to be in a ‘pretty good condition’.
The court heard that 17 of the dogs were returned to people connected with the site (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Lee agreed to sign the dogs over to Suffolk Police on August 7 this year (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
The court heard Lee ‘did not know how many dogs she had’ (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
The seized dogs were in varying conditions and states of health, including some with limited or no access to food or water (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Temporary Detective Superintendent Nicky Wallace, who led the investigation, said: ‘This was an extremely challenging investigation, given the number of dogs involved and the difficulties we faced in establishing ownership.
‘I would like to thank our partners, especially the RSPCA for their cooperation and for the support from the public. The dogs which have been rehomed will now go on to have the chance of happier, healthier lives, where they will be loved and cared for.
‘We did everything we possibly could to establish the ownership of each of these dogs but in some cases, it was not possible.
‘Where ownership was established and, there were no concerns highlighted, the dogs were returned to their owners.
‘The conditions that some of these dogs were found in were clearly unacceptable, and the sentence handed to Humphrys and Lee reflects this.
‘Thankfully, these conditions are unique and rarely seen in Suffolk. I am grateful in conjunction with the RSPCA that many of the dogs now look forward to a new life in their forever homes.’
The RSPCA has now launched an investigation into the shocking incident (Picture: SWNS)
Four puppies who were abandoned in a filthy, plastic crate with no food or water by the road in Essex have died.
They were among 15 sick cockapoos, thought to be from two different litters, discovered by a passer-by on Monday evening near Basildon Crematorium in Pitsea.
The weak, whimpering animals were rushed to a vet, who was so shocked by their condition that they contacted the RSPCA.
Sadly, one puppy was dead on arrival and three others were so poorly they had to be put to sleep.
The remaining 11 animals who are thought to be from a puppy farm remain ill with diarrhoea and are currently being closely monitored.
The RSPCA has launched an investigation into the incident and inspectors believe the animals could be dumped ‘lockdown’ puppies.
They were discovered by a passer-by huddled in a plastic crate at Pitsea, Essex, without food or water (Pictures: SWNS)
The animals were taken to a vet for examination (Pictures: SWNS)
The 11 puppies are currently being monitored as they are still poorly and have diarrhea (Pictures: SWNS)
Chloe Frost, from the animal charity, said: ‘It is so shocking that such a large number of puppies were dumped, especially as they were all so poorly.
‘They had all been dumped in a dirty crate with no food or water and in such hot temperatures too.
‘We are so thankful that they were found as now the remaining pups have a chance of survival.
‘We do not know at this stage if they came from a puppy farm and then abandoned when it was realised how poorly they were.
‘We also cannot rule out that they are the result of a demand for ‘lockdown’ puppies – and we are concerned about what will happen to more ‘lockdown puppies’ over the coming months.’
The dirty, plastic crate the animals were found in (Pictures: SWNS)
The RSPCA is now concerned about a potential increase in abandoned puppies over the coming months (Pictures: SWNS)
It is believed the animals were from a ‘puppy’ farm (Pictures: SWNS
There was a huge surge in demand for dogs during lockdown as families made the most of spending more time at home.
However, the RSPCA is now concerned about a potential increase in abandoned puppies over the coming months as a result of puppies bought during the pandemic.
During lockdown last year, between March 23 and December 31, the RSPCA’s Find a Pet section of the website had 39,835,657 views compared to 23,681,542 in the same period the previous year – a spike of 68%.
The number of views to the charity’s pages about rehoming a dog surged 87% from 540,524 to 1,013,795 over the same period.
The snake was discovered opposite a layby on the B5062 near Roden, Shropshire, last week. (Picture:SWNS)
A six foot boa constrictor was found coughing up blood on a quiet country lane which the RSPCA fears is being used as a ‘dumping ground’ for unwanted pets.
The snake was discovered opposite a layby on the B5062 near Roden, Shropshire, last week.
The discovery came after a dead snake was found nearby, sparking fears the road is being used as place to abandon exotic pets.
Residents living in Roden have been left spooked by the news, with some concerned about letting their children outdoors.
One local wrote on social media: ‘Is it just me or is this freaking anybody else out? I don’t want live 6ft snakes slithering around the village.’
Another added: ‘This is literally the stuff of my nightmares. My skin is crawling just thinking about it.’
A third person said: ‘I’m concerned for my kids and dog. These animals can attack.’
Boa constrictors use their jaws – which are lined with hooked teeth – for grabbing and holding prey before squeezing them to the point of suffocation.
Boas are said to ‘eat almost anything’ they can catch in the wild – including birds, monkeys, and wild pigs.
The snake was found bleeding and with a broken jaw (Picture: RSPCA / SWNS)
They are non-venomous but their jaws can stretch wide enough to swallow large prey whole.
The RSPCA said they were contacted after the boa constrictor was discovered with a broken jaw by two drivers at around 4pm on Friday September 17.
The concerned passers by managed to safely block the creature in with their cars before calling the police, who then closed the road.
RSPCA inspector Claire Davey, along with the charity’s animal rescue officer Rachel Ward, who specialises in exotic animals, attended the scene.
The boa was bleeding from its jaw and was seen coughing up blood after it is believed to have been hit by a car.
The officers managed to safely contain the reptile in a large duvet cover using a specialist pole with a hook.
It was taken to a vets and given pain relief but died later that night.
The RSPCA fears the road is being used as a dumping spot for snakes (Picture: RSPCA / SWNS)
The RSPCA thinks both reptiles were deliberately abandoned in the area and said they believe the country lane is being used as a place to dump unwanted pets.
Ms Davey said: ‘Normally when we get a call like this we find the snake has been misidentified and it’s actually a small native species, so we were very surprised when we arrived and saw a six-foot boa constrictor on the road.
‘It’s very sad that this beautiful creature’s life ended like this.
‘Sadly we think this snake was probably abandoned as it’s a very isolated location and there are no houses around for at least a mile.
‘The discovery of the body of another snake close by also leads us to believe that someone has deliberately left them.’
The inspector said that these sorts of incidents ‘are not unusual’.
‘We receive hundreds of calls every year relating to reptiles, and some of these have either escaped or may have been abandoned by their owners.
‘Sadly snakes and lizards often end up in our care as some owners don’t realise the commitment that is involved in meeting their needs.’
She said an adult boa constrictor can grow up to 13-feet long and live for over 20 years in captivity, ‘which is why we always urge people to do their research before taking on any exotic animal as a pet’.
It comes less than a month after two 10ft pythons were discovered in Cambridgeshire.
Twister’ was found on Pwllheli beach in north Wales (Picture: Wales News)
A seal pup is being nursed back to health after a suspected dog attack on a beach in north Wales.
The youngster was found underweight and dehydrated last week, with puncture wounds in his back thought to be consistent with dog bites.
The injured animal, nicknamed Twister, was spotted by a diver near Pwllheli beach, who alerted the RSPCA.
A week on from his rescue on Friday, September 24, vets say he is looking ‘lively’ and hope he can be released back into the wild in a few months.
But first Twister needs to put on some weight, with the help of herring soup.
Meanwhile, wildlife experts are urging dog walkers not to allow their pets to get too close to seals.
It is far from the first incident of its kind and follows an attack in March which hit the headlines after resulting in a seal known as Freddie Mercury needing to be put down.
Twister is being tube fed back to health, and will soon move on to herring soup and then whole fish (Picture: Wales News)
Following the latest attack, Lee Stewart, the manager of Stapley Grange wildlife centre where Twister is being cared for, explained: ‘Dog walkers should always be vigilant if they walk their dogs near seal hotspots on the Wales coast, especially at this time of year during pupping season.
‘Considering his ordeal, Twister is doing well and he’s pretty lively, which is a good sign.’
Mr Stewart added: ‘We are tube feeding him initially, and he’ll then move on to herring soup before we start giving him whole fish.
‘He’ll be with us for around three or [four] months as he only weighs 14.5kg and he will need to get to around 40kg before he is released back into the wild.’
The RSPCA said Twister will spend his final weeks of rehabilitation at Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay, where he can enjoy larger pools, before being returned back to the wild.
The charity says lone seal pups are often mistakenly thought to be in trouble but advise contacting them if they look thin (with a visible neck, like a dog) if the mother does not return within 24 hours, or if they look sick or injured.
For more information on helping young seals, click here.
Poor old Duke was abandoned in an empty house and left to starve (Picture: SWNS)
When Duke the Akita was found scared and abandoned in an empty house, he was underweight, had severe muscle loss, and his legs were covered in sores.
At 17, he became one of the oldest resident at Cotswolds Dogs and Cats Home.
His old age – around 104 in dog years – made it tricky for the dog to find a home.
But now, finally, he’s met the right match, in the form of first-time fosterers Kate and her family.
RSPCA inspector David Milborrow said: ‘Poor Duke was in quite a state when he arrived here. He was underweight and very unsteady on his legs.
‘He was suffering from severe muscle loss, knuckling of his hind limbs and sores on his back legs.’
His old age and rough life experience means the team at the shelter aren’t sure how long Duke has long left to live – but they say they’re determined to ensure ‘his final weeks or months are the best they can be’.
His old age made it tough to find a home (Picture: RSPCA / SWNS)
New owner Kate said: ‘We lost our dog in January and when we saw Duke’s advert on Facebook, we were so sad that he hadn’t had any applications.
‘We felt every dog deserves a loving home, especially in those later years and, being a vet student studying at home, I felt we could offer him a suitable home.
‘He’s getting on so well and settled in straight away.
‘His personality is really coming through now, he’s doing much better with his mobility around the house, and he barks when we get his harness out for a walk.
‘He gets so excited when my parents come home from work and wags his tail.
‘Considering all he’s been through it is lovely to see that he can still trust people and that’s testament to the work of the RSPCA and his wonderful carers at Cotswolds Dogs and Cats Home.’
If you’d like to help Duke and other dogs you can sponsor him online or donate to Cotswolds Dogs and Cats Home to aid them in continuing their work.
Horses had to be dug out of mud and 4ft of muck and excrement at the stables in Hetton-le-Hole (Picture: NCJ Media)
A couple has been banned for keeping animals for life after RSPCA inspectors found they had been keeping dozens of horses in ‘horrendous conditions.’
Some had to be dug out of mud and four-foot of muck and excrement at the stables in Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear.
The animals had been left without hay or water and were in poor physical condition with matted coats and overgrown hooves.
Officers found a total of 40 horses at the site which were not being properly cared for by Gordon Hamilton Metcalf, 59, and 48-year-old Denise Ann Clark.
As a result the pair, both of Hetton-le-Hole, were each banned from keeping animals for life – a ban which cannot be contested for 10 years.
In addition to a lifetime disqualification from keeping all animals Metcalf was also sentenced to 18-weeks in jail suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £750 in costs.
Clark was ordered to pay a £180 fine and £750 in costs.
RSPCA Inspector Fannon said: ‘The conditions in the paddock were horrendous’ (Picture: NCJ Media)
At their trial, held at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court in September, the court heard details of the conditions RSPCA Inspectors Terri-Ann Fannon and Gemma Lynch and World Horse Welfare Field Officer Seema Ritson found the horses in.
Inspector Fannon said: ‘The conditions in the paddock were horrendous.
‘There was no dry standing area, the mud was above my knees when I stood in it and it was almost impossible to manoeuvre.’
She said she found four Shetland ponies in the ‘worst conditions she had ever seen’.
Ms Fannon went on: ‘The horses stood on old hay, muck and faeces up to my shoulders (approximately 4 feet high). There was no access in or out of the stable.
‘The cobs were unable to lift their heads up as the muck was so high their heads were touching the roof of the stable.
‘They had no food or water. Several of my colleagues spent several hours digging out the horses.’
The court heard how the couple had previously been told they could not keep horses at the site during the winter months to the extremely muddy conditions (NCJ Media)
All of the horses were examined by a vet before being taken in the care of the RSPCA’s care (Picture: NCJ Media)
Inspectors had to climb over rumble to get to horses, prise open a stable door which had been nailed shut and found lots of the horses without hay or water.
The court heard how the couple had previously been told they could not keep horses at the site during the winter months to the extremely muddy conditions.
But they had not made any improvements to the stables apart from a makeshift area of uneven cobble bricks which the horses could not stand on.
All of the horses were examined by a vet before being taken in the care of the RSPCA’s care.
In total, 12 horses were caused to suffer by the pair’s failure to provide farrier treatment for their overgrown hooves.
Ten were also caused to suffer as a result of Metcalf and Clark failing to provide adequate food and water.
The pair were sentenced at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on October 7.
Following the sentencing hearing, Insp Fannon said the case was the ‘worst horse case’ she had been involved with.
