Latest news with #RoyalSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials issue warning after animal is killed by person's thoughtless act: 'It's distressing to see'
Officials are urging the public to take littering more seriously after a duck was found fatally entangled in a fishing line in the River Cleddau. This tragic incident was shared by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and comes following a recent call to action by the organization about the same issue, according to the Western Telegraph. The duck was so badly injured by the line wrapped around its leg that circulation had been cut off, and the wounds were down to the bone. It also had damage to its wings from struggling to free itself. Ultimately, the duck had to be euthanized to prevent further suffering. In 2024, 34% of RSPCA's litter-related calls involved fishing tackle litter. That doesn't mean that's the only type of litter causing these incidents, though: This is just one example of the more than 2,000 reports the organization received last year. "It's distressing to see how our native wildlife is being affected by litter," said Carrie Stones, the group's anti-litter campaign manager, according to the Western Telegraph. This isn't just about a few ducks in one river. According to the RSPCA, these avoidable incidents happen thousands of times each year. Animals from bears in the forest to sea turtles in the ocean have fallen victim to litter-related injuries. With rising global temperatures already putting wildlife under stress, our habits around waste and plastic are becoming even more urgent to address. Beyond animals, littering has impacts on our greater ecosystem. Plastic pollution releases harmful gases into our atmosphere, and increasing numbers of harmed species can reduce our environment's necessary biodiversity. In Wales, the RSPCA is joining forces with Keep Wales Tidy for the Spring Clean Cymru campaign, encouraging residents to take part in community litter-pick events through April 6. The campaign aims to reduce harm to wildlife and pets alike, particularly ahead of breeding season when animals are most vulnerable. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Beyond joining clean-up events, everyday actions matter, too. The RSPCA urges people to hold onto their trash until they can dispose of it properly or recycle it. Even better, cutting back on single-use plastics can prevent this kind of harm from happening in the first place. And to see the positive side of the story: from snack wrapper recycling efforts to biodegradable water bottles, companies across the country are finding smarter ways to reduce waste and protect our planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Heartbroken Brits abandon pets as living costs bite
LONDON – Staff at a London animal shelter have seen more than their fair share of abandoned pets over the years, from kittens in boxes to budgies dropped outside in the dead of night. But lately, there has been a surge in the numbers as people make the heartbreaking decision to give up their animal companions, no longer able to afford to care for their pets. 'Struggling animal owners are feeling a lot of heartache and also shame and frustration that they're having to make these decisions,' said Ms Elvira Meucci-Lyons, chief executive of the Mayhew shelter in Kensal Green, west London. 'They come to us because they feel they have no choice,' she added. 'Behind every animal we take in, there's a human story.' The small centre has taken in more than 130 animals in 2025 alone. It is part of a wider rise across Britain , where tens of thousands of pets have been abandoned since the Covid-19 pandemic and the onset of a cost-of-living crisis. In the first few months of 2025, more than 5,700 abandonments have been reported to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the world's oldest animal welfare organisation – a 32 per cent rise on the same period in 2024. There were around 22,500 cases reported in total in 2024, up more than 7 per cent in 2023. The challenge of affording animal care poses a heart-rending problem for many in Britain, a nation of dog and cat lovers where half the adult population – more than 26 million people – has a pet, said the RSPCA. And it has hit the country's poorest especially hard. Staff at Mayhew said some owners were having to choose between feeding themselves and their pets. Several pets at the centre – including dogs Brownie, a one-year-old toy poodle, and Astro, an American pocket bully – were brought in because their owners lost their homes due to financial troubles. Stories like these are 'the most upsetting', Ms Meucci-Lyons said, because in hard times, pet owners 'need their lovely animals more than ever and the dog or cat doesn't want to do without their owner'. Rising vet bills Mayhew staff said more pets were also arriving at the centre in Kensal Green in poor health, often because their owners cannot afford veterinary bills. Felix's case is typical. The muscular nine-year-old tomcat was playing with a length of string. But he arrived with tooth problems, with his owners bringing him to the shelter and saying they could not afford to keep him. 'We're seeing quite a lot more needing dental work nowadays,' said Mayhew spokeswoman Olivia Patt. The pandemic saw a spike in pet ownership under government lockdowns, and a subsequent wave of people then giving up their animals as normal lifestyles resumed. Some people are returning lockdown pets, several years on. But RSPCA spokesman David Bowles said that living costs, which soared during the pandemic, have become a major factor driving abandonments. 'We are now five years on from the first lockdown under Covid-19. The RSPCA believes the cost-of-living crisis is really impacting people's ability to pay for vet treatments in particular,' he said. UK inflation soared above 11 per cent in October 2022, the highest level in more than four decades, and while it has slowed in the last few years, people are still feeling the squeeze. Prices for many items, including pet food, have gone up by around 25 per cent. At Mayhew, staff have been doing all they can, from providing struggling owners with pet food and animal care packages, to offering free preventative treatments. But the pressure has pushed the shelter's bubbly staff to their limits. 'We are run off our feet, we can't keep up with the demand,' said Ms Meucci-Lyons. Even though the staff are comforted by knowing they make a difference, 'every day it is heartbreaking – we go to bed at night thinking about the dogs and cats we can't help', she added. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Express Tribune
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
US influencer Sam Jones apologizes after baby wombat snatching incident in Australia, faces backlash
A US influencer has sparked controversy and outrage in Australia after she was seen grabbing a baby wombat from its mother on a road. Sam Jones, a hunting influencer, left the country on Friday, after home affairs minister Tony Burke confirmed that immigration authorities were investigating whether she had breached the conditions of her visa. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, led to widespread condemnation. On Saturday, Jones took to Instagram to post a 900-word apology, claiming she was acting out of concern for the wombat's safety. "I was extremely concerned when I found the wombats on the road, and stopped to ensure they were not hit by a car," she wrote. "When I walked up to the baby and it did not move, I thought it may have been sick or injured, so I decided to pick up the wombat to check." Jones emphasized that her intentions were not malicious, stating, 'I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me. The snap judgment I made in these moments was never from a place of harm or stealing a joey." She assured followers that after checking on the baby wombat, she returned it to its mother and made sure they both safely left the road. In the lengthy post, Jones also addressed the backlash, explaining that the incident was never staged for social media content. 'I want to make it absolutely clear that this was never about social media or getting likes. This was not staged, nor was it done for entertainment. In my excitement and concern, I acted too quickly and then failed to provide necessary context to viewers online." Despite the apology, Jones's actions remain the subject of intense criticism. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the act, calling it 'an outrage' and jokingly suggested Jones try taking a baby crocodile from its mother. Additionally, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) condemned the act, pointing out the distress caused to both the joey and the mother wombat. 'The footage shows a blatant disregard for native wildlife, and the distress caused to the joey and the mother was clear,' an RSPCA spokesperson said. Jones, who was targeted with thousands of death threats following the incident, also questioned the outrage in a country where 'slaughter of wombats' is allowed. She pointed out that, under Australian law, harming a wombat is only permitted if a permit is obtained, though hunting and culling practices remain controversial. Jones has since expressed regret for how she handled the situation and acknowledged that her actions were not appropriate. As authorities continue to investigate whether Jones violated the terms of her visa, the story continues to fuel debate on social media and beyond.
Telegraph
04-03-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Almost half of Britons do not know how to make pancakes
Almost half of Britons do not know how to make pancakes from scratch, a survey has found. Only 45 per cent of British adults know the recipe for pancakes, which are made using a simple batter of flour, eggs and water. The YouGov poll of 2,000 adults found that 25 per cent of people were also unaware that eggs are an ingredient. Supermarkets now sell premade pancake mixtures in bottles, eliminating the need to make the batter from scratch. Kate Parkes, a hen welfare expert at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), said the findings proved the public no longer knew 'where our food comes from'. 'Something as simple as not knowing what ingredients are in a pancake might seem innocuous and funny,' she said. 'But it exposes an important truth – we just don't know enough about what we are eating and where our food comes from.' Pancakes are traditionally eaten on the last day before Lent, the 40-day period where Christians fast before Easter. They were historically eaten to use up a household's supplies of fat or lard. The day is now increasingly known simply as 'Pancake Day' as Britain has become less religious and less familiar with Christian traditions. It is thought that 145 million eggs will be sold this week, according to statistics from analysts NielsenIQ. The survey, commissioned by RSPCA Assured, also found that 60 per cent would buy eggs produced by farms with high animal welfare standards. In Britain, eight million hens spend most of their lives in cages, representing approximately 20 per cent of the hen population. 'Ethical food choices' Ms Parkes said: 'People want to make ethical food choices; for example, 60 per cent of people who make pancakes said it is important to them that the ingredients come from higher-welfare farms. 'But many don't realise that everyday foods, like pancakes, depend on egg production, and nearly 20 per cent of UK egg production comes from caged hens. 'This lack of knowledge could mean people are inadvertently supporting lower-welfare farming and funding cruel practices such as hens being kept in cages.' She added: 'The old battery cage was banned in Europe in 2012, but many were just replaced by a new type of cage called a 'colony' or 'enriched cage'. 'In reality, these are not much better and only give each hen about as much space as the size of a large pancake, which is totally unacceptable.'
USA Today
25-02-2025
- USA Today
Watch the emotional moment a stolen labrador was returned to her owners after 8 years!
A family from Old Buckenham, Norfolk, England, is celebrating a miracle after their beloved dog was returned home eight years after she was stolen. Witnesses saw Daisy the Labrador taken from Rita and Philip Potter's garden in 2017. The thieves were thought to be professionals running a backyard breeding operation. However, despite police efforts, the culprits were never caught and the Labrador remained missing. 'Not knowing if she was safe or if she was loved was awful for us,' said Rita. 'We did everything we could to find her, including big appeals on social media which went across the world.' As the years passed, the family wondered if Daisy was still alive, as she was already 5 years old when she was stolen. Though they refused to give up hope, they feared they'd never find out what happened to her. 'We kept a photograph on the mantlepiece and would look at it every day thinking of her and where she might be,' said Rita. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. The Potter's nightmare finally came to an end by chance, when an inspector from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the UK's primary animal welfare charity, found Daisy during a routine investigation. Her owner had only had her for a few years and was not the one who stole her. However, Daisy seemed neglected and in need of medical attention, so the RSPCA inspector took her to a vet for treatment. Once at the vet, a microchip revealed Daisy's true identity and owners. Soon after, in a tearful exchange, she was reunited with her long-lost family. Watch the video above to see a stolen family dog finally returned home. 'It is an absolute dream come true that the RSPCA found her and have returned her to us, where she belongs. We are so grateful,' said Rita. 'We know she is elderly now and has health issues, but whatever time she has left, she will now be surrounded by lots of love and attention.' Humankind is your go-to spot for good news! Click here to submit your uplifting, cute, or inspiring video moments for us to feature. Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter, bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox.
