Amidst the picturesque landscapes of Surrey, a distressing trend unfolds—an alarming surge in animal abandonments, foretelling what the RSPCA dubs an “unprecedented winter crisis.” Startling statistics reveal a 27.4% spike in abandonment incidents this year, with 228 calls answered by the charity, echoing the echoes of a community grappling with the combined impacts of the pandemic and a relentless cost-of-living crisis.
Among the discarded souls in southeast England, a bearded dragon and two tortoises found refuge in a cardboard box in Horsham, West Sussex—silent witnesses to the growing predicament. Dermot Murphy, spearheading the RSPCA’s frontline rescue teams, paints a grim picture: “The combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis has created a perfect storm. We’re desperately concerned about the coming winter months in Surrey. Abandonments have soared, and many rescue centres are full to bursting, so we are facing an unprecedented winter crisis.” As winter’s chill looms, so does the plight of these abandoned creatures, pleading for compassion in a world gripped by crises.
In the chill of January, the RSPCA stumbled upon a cardboard box in Horsham, concealing two unsuspecting tortoises. These resilient creatures, hailing from the Mediterranean, demand a specific habitat—nighttime warmth of fifteen degrees and daytime rays reaching a toasty twenty-five degrees.
Against the odds, the RSPCA discovered the tortoises in good health, a testament to their resilience. Their journey continued as they found a new haven at the South Essex Wildlife Hospital in Grays.
The tale of these tortoises unfolds within a broader narrative of concern. The RSPCA’s vigilant efforts reveal a staggering reality: a surge in animal abandonment cases in 2023. With 17,838 cases already documented, surpassing the total for 2020, the trajectory forewarns of a somber trend. Projections point toward a markedly higher total for 2023 compared to both 2021 (17,179 cases) and 2022 (19,645 cases), painting a distressing portrait of the challenges faced by our furry and scaly companions.