RSPCA rehoming center at breaking point after ‘flooded with puppies’

An animal rehoming center in Cornwall is at breaking point as people can’t afford to keep a dog and want an easy solution. The RSPCA said its St Columb center may be at capacity, but it is not stopping people dropping off unwanted pets, including whole litters of puppies that people don’t know what to do with.

RSPCA Cornwall Branch chief executive Emily Bowen said: “We have a rehoming center in St Columb Major which houses dogs, cats and small animals. We are full and we have a long list of animals waiting to come.”

She said animal rehoming has been very slow in recent times, especially as people struggle with the cost of living crisis and the XL bully ban has prevented people from owning large dogs. As a result, the RSPCA’s rehoming center has had to take in several large breed dogs which it is now struggling to rehome.

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Mrs Bowen added: “We have more animals coming to us with more serious health problems that people can’t afford to treat and more behavioral problems. I think unfortunately we are in a societal culture where people don’t always have time to work with. these animals and want an easy solution. We were also inundated with puppies.

“We want to encourage people to foster if they can’t afford to keep an animal because we offer support. You are more than welcome to come and meet us to discuss further.”

The animal center between Wadebridge and Newquay has capacity for 28 dogs and is full. The charity said the situation was so bad it had to build a new kennel for 12 more dogs, with work currently underway.

Mrs Bowen added: “This is very expensive for the branch but it is necessary to support dogs in Cornwall. What we’ve had to do is grow our foster network and we currently have 40 dogs in foster homes, which is a huge increase from last time. Year for us, breeds include Belgian Malinois, lurchers and large bull crosses.”

The situation is now unique to Cornwall, but is replicated across the country. Nationally, the charity was urging the public to consider adopting a pet instead of buying one as a way to reduce stress on its rescue center, which it said are all at capacity.

The RSPCA said it was costing the charity in the region £500,000 a month to run its centers and it was only getting worse as The cost of living crisis has left rescue centers facing an “animal welfare crisis”.

More than 1,400 animals are currently waiting in private rehoming centers as RSPCA centers are full. In the first four months of this year*, it cost the RSPCA £2.1m to provide care for hundreds of animals in private boarding facilities as its own facilities are already at capacity. Of this total, almost £1.2 million went on to house hundreds of dogs as there was no space left in any of the RSPCA’s own centers and branches.

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Karen Colman, head of logistics and animal welfare oversight at the RSPCA, said: “As we celebrate our 200th birthday this year, it’s incredible to see how far animal welfare has come since we were founded in 1824. But the sad reality is that there is still so much to do, and we are currently facing an animal welfare crisis. Our rescue and rehoming centers are at breaking point with the number of animals coming in versus the number being rehomed.

“We currently have 503 dogs waiting to come into our rehoming centers and while they wait they are cared for by an amazing network of private kennels – but amid the cost of living crisis many of them have also had to raise prices, which makes it an ever-increasing expense for us. The bills we face are increasing every month.”

She added: “Unfortunately, more animals in need come to us all the time – many who have been victims of horrific cruelty, abuse and neglect – and rehoming rates have struggled in recent years as many families I feel the pressure of the cost, I live the crisis and make the decision not to get a pet.

“We are issuing an urgent appeal to those families who do feel committed to the cost and responsibility of a pet consider adopting a rescue instead of buying from a breeder or pet store. We have hundreds of animals in our care with so much love to give, they just need a chance.”

• The RSPCA has launched a cost of living center with lots of advice to help pet owners who may be struggling with the cost of pet care, as well as a dedicated helpline.

• Anyone who feels they can rehome a pet can see all the animals ready to find love on Find a Pet.

• To support the RSPCA in their vital work rescuing animals from cruelty and neglect, rehabilitating and rehoming, please donate online.