The RSPCA has reported a sharp rise in pet abandonments across England and Wales, with incidents increasing by almost 25% in 2025 compared with the previous year. The charity described the situation as an 'epidemic' of abandoned dogs, cats and other animals, driven by the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Up to the end of October, the charity’s emergency line had received 24,270 reports of abandoned or dumped animals, up from 19,727 in the same period of 2024. The RSPCA’s superintendent, Simon Osborne, said: 'We have seen a dramatic and heartbreaking rise in abandonments this year. With winter upon us, with plummeting temperatures and dark nights, we fear things could get even harder.'
Among the cases cited were seven terrier-cross puppies left in a metal cage outside the RSPCA’s Doncaster and Rotherham branch during Storm Claudia. In another incident, a critically ill terrier was dumped in a sports bag at the charity’s Finsbury Park animal hospital in north London. A dog was also abandoned at a shelter in Sheffield with only a note bearing his name, Lucky.
The RSPCA believes the cost of living crisis is forcing owners to struggle with pet food and veterinary bills. A survey by the charity found that seven in ten pet owners are worried about the cost of caring for their animals, while a fifth are concerned about affording food. A network of pet food banks has been established across England and Wales to help owners, and the RSPCA has launched a money-saving hub online.
Other charities have reported similar trends. The Scottish SPCA noted a 20% rise in calls from people needing to give up their pets in the first half of the year, while the USPCA in Northern Ireland said the number of kittens in its care is increasing each year. The RSPCA has launched an appeal to raise funds for its frontline officers as it continues to deal with the surge.
