Firefighters and charities report rise in animal rescue callouts in England | Animal welfare
Animal rescue calls from firefighters have risen by more than a quarter in five years, figures show as charities warn of a new wave of abandonments linked to the rising costs of food and vet bills.
The RSPCA received 22,503 abandonment reports last year as the cost of vet and pet food rose dramatically. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show vet costs were almost 50% higher last month than in 2020, with the price of the average can of dog food rising from 60p to £1.03 in the same period.
The charity Cats Protection said a rise in pet ownership amid the cost of living crisis was putting the rescue sector under pressure. A spokesman said charities and firefighters, who often work hand in hand to rescue abandoned animals, were “feeling the impact of these two things coming together as owners face challenges caring for their pets”.
The fire service has seen animal rescue calls in England rise by 27% in five years; Calls for pets increased by 38% in the same period. Inside By June 2025, 3,462 pets have been rescued nationwide; more than a third of these were in London. London Fire Brigade estimates £686,475 was spent on animal calls in the year to June; this is a jump from £261,253 in 2020.
RSPCA spokesperson Cheryl Hague said of the pandemic: “People bought animals and realized it cost a lot more money than they wanted. They realized that and then gave them up.”
Last year, a kitten named Socks was found tied to a bag and thrown into a bin in Camden Town, north London. Just a few months earlier the same litter box had been used to dispose of another kitten named Binky. Both have since been rehomed.
The terrier dog named Ladybug was found tangled in barbed wire after being thrown over the wall and abandoned by her owner. Officers from the London fire brigade managed to untie her and took her to the nearest RSCPA animal hospital, where she gave birth to a puppy named Babybird a few days later.
After London, Essex has experienced one of the highest increases in animal rescues after London, with a change of 84% in five years.
Paul Jones, operational group instructor with the Essex County fire and rescue team, said: “We rescue animals to prevent members of the public from putting themselves in harm’s way. Our firefighters train regularly for a wide range of rescue scenarios, and although these incidents require time and resources, they are part of our commitment to keeping our communities and their pets safe.”
The increase in rescues is partly attributed to higher levels of pet ownership. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, 3.2 million households in the UK have adopted a pet during the pandemic. But many were not prepared for rising costs beyond inflation in previous years.
PDSA, a UK veterinary charity, estimates that it will cost £11,000 to care for a cat over its lifetime, and this figure does not include vet fees if the animal becomes ill or injured.
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to research veterinary industry – currently 60% owned by just six large companies, mostly backed by private equity firms. It is investigating concerns about companies buying up hundreds of independent veterinary practices, raising prices and making excessive profits.
The CMA’s preliminary report, published in October, found pet owners paid an average of 16.6% more for their animals’ treatment at large veterinary groups than at independent vets. It says the current regulatory system, which regulates individual vets rather than businesses, is “not fit for purpose”.
Further research from Cats Protection shows a trend of younger, wealthier pet owners keeping purebred cats indoors and being less likely to neuter them. Sarah Elliot, the charity’s head of veterinary and outreach operations, said: “The top reasons cats come into our care are stray kittens and unwanted kittens. And I think this is related to falling sterilization rates for unwanted kittens.”
