Suffolk's rising pet abandonment numbers reflect worrying national trend

The big picture: The RSPCA recorded 4,630 abandoned animals across England and Wales last winter, up from 3,071 in winter 2020-21, highlighting a significant upward trend.

By the numbers:

• 216 pets were abandoned in Suffolk last winter

• This represents a 15% rise from 188 in the winter 2020-21

• Nationally, 20,999 animals were abandoned in 2023

• This marks a 30% increase from 2020

Behind the trend: RSPCA chief inspector Ian Briggs points to the cost-of-living pressures forcing some people to move out of their homes, resulting in pets being left behind in empty properties.

"Heartbreakingly, they are unable to survive for long in their own filth — with no food or water, no one to care for them and no idea if anyone will come to help them," he said.

What they're seeing: The charity reports finding:

• Dogs in poor health, collapsed in isolated locations

• Sick kittens discarded in cardboard boxes

• Pet rabbits abandoned in the wild with little chance of survival

What's next: The RSPCA expects the situation to worsen during the winter months, when pet owners typically experience increased financial pressures.

Bottom line: While Suffolk's increase in abandonments is concerning, it reflects a broader national pattern that animal welfare charities are struggling to address amid ongoing economic pressures.