An animal rescue centre is facing "enormous pressure" in the wake of the cost of living crisis.
Freshfields animal rescue in Ince Blundell has seen the demand for spaces at their rescue centre quadruple over the last three years. According to the RSPCA animal neglect and abandonment is at a three-year high, and the impact is being felt at Freshfields.
Debbie Hughes from Freshfields animal rescue told the ECHO: “The pressure on rescue centres like Freshfields is enormous. We’re all overstretched, and we all just can’t cope, but it isn’t hopeless. Genuine people just cannot afford to care for their pets anymore.”
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Debbie talked about the "silent sufferers" that she sees brought to the rescue centre, as it is seeing an increase in rabbits being brought to them. She believes a lot of them were bought around the time of the COVID-19 lockdown.
She said: “We’ve been seeing a lot of three-year-old dogs who were obviously bought around lockdown time and then abandoned when they were no longer wanted or when their owner’s circumstances changed. They haven’t got the training or socialisation, so they’re not used to people and don’t know what to do out and about in a public place.”
Freshfields are urging people to think carefully about whether their lifestyle will suit a pet. Debbie said: “If it doesn’t work out, sadly, those pets may end up being brought to our doors, we keep our doors open, but the phrase 'adopt don’t shop' is more meaningful now than it ever was.”
She added: “Behavioural problems are one of the main reasons why animals are abandoned, whatever type of animal you’re thinking of getting, make sure that you are able and committed to putting in the time that it will need so that they can become a cherished pet.”
Freshfields are asking people to adopt from a rescue centre rather than from breeders to reduce the number of animals that are turning up needing their care. Last year they changed the lives of 1,305 animals, including wildlife, through the help of the public.
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