MORE THAN 700 hundred animals are waiting for a space in the ‘full to bursting’ RSPCA centres, leading to an urgent appeal for foster carers.
The RSPCA in Frankley is one of the struggling branches that have resorted to paying thousands a week on private boarders for the temporary home for its animals.
As it stands, 39 animals in the county are staying in private boarders to help the centres exceeding their capacity.
In response, the RSPCA has launched an urgent new drive to recruit more fosterers to care for the animals temporarily in their own homes to ease the pressure.
Brian Reeves, head of volunteering at the RSPCA, said: “We are in the middle of an animal crisis, and we can only see it getting worse over the winter months as the cost of living crisis bites.
“It is absolutely vital that we free up as much space in RSPCA centres now, so we have got room for animal victims of neglect and cruelty we rescued in the coming weeks and months – and more fosterers are going to be crucial in achieving that.”
The new statistics come as the RSPCA’s annual rehoming campaign, Adoptober, continues to shine a light on the work of the charity’s animal centres and the rescue pets looking for a second chance at happiness.
There are eight dogs, 33 cats, six rabbits, four gerbils, nine guinea pigs and one rat at the Frankley branch looking for foster homes.
Visit rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/volunteer/whatcanido/fostering to find out more.
