The Parish Magazine January 2021

22 The Parish Magazine - January 2021
feature — 5
RSPCA and a Charvil nature lover appeal for help d
The River Thames in winter: Rod Thomas
In the wake of Covid-19, RSPCA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), like most
of the 168,000+ charities registered in the UK, is facing extremely difficult times and appealing for
additional financial and practical help from the public. As well as caring for the increasing numbers of
animals being taken into their care as result of the pandemic, it continues to be concerned about the
annual seasonal fluctuations that comes with the winter weather.
The RSPCA was the first national animal welfare
society in the world and was founded in 1824 by
an Anglican priest, Rev Arthur Broome. He asked
the question, ‘Can the infliction of cruelty on any
being which the Almighty has endued with feelings
of pain and pleasure consist with genuine and true
benevolence?’
It was called the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals until Queen Victoria gave it her
royal patronage in 1840.
The prime concern in 1824 was pit ponies and
the harsh cruelty that was being inflicted on them.
Today the work it undertakes is staggering and
includes all animals — working, farm, household
pets and wild. It has over 640,000 animals in
its care and during the pandemic this number
continues to grow along with the workload.
For example, between 24 March and 5 August, it
was swamped with 442,344 calls, and responded to
106,676 incidents of animals in need. That averaged
790 incidents a day!
Such a volume of need was a challenge as the
charity was working with fewer officers, due to
‘furlough, shielding and ill health’, a spokesman
explained.
He went on: 'As well as operating an emergency
service, rescuing animals in need, RSPCA officers
Squirrel: Shri Hooley, unsplash.com
have also been collecting animals from the homes
of people who have been admitted to hospital with
Covid-19, and who may not have anyone else to
care for them while their owners are being treated.
HELP YOUR LOCAL WILDLIFE
Now, with a second Covid wave in progress
and the winter months adding to the existing
demands caring for wildlife, such as that
found in our local environment — badgers,
foxes, deer, hedgehogs, squirrels, rabbits and
a variety of birds and wildfowl — the RSPCA is
appealing for communities everywhere to help
by actively keeping an eye out for animals in
need and help the wildlife by putting out extra
food and shelter.
A great example of a simple way of helping
the RSPCA is to join Karen (read her story on the
right) by creating a hedgehog highway in your
neighbourhood.
You can find plenty of ideas for doing this and
other things on the RSPCA website which has an
excellent series of information sheets that can be
downloaded free of charge — and you can also
make a donation to their work while you are there!
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife
Rabbit: freepngimages.com