A VULNERABLE eight-week-old puppy dumped in Somerset is one of thousands of pets recently abandoned in Somerset.  

Little Will, an eight-week-old dachshund puppy, was found abandoned at Woolavington Sports Pavilion in November last year.

RSPCA inspector, Jo Daniel, believes he was dumped simply because he had a non-contagious and treatable disease called puppy strangles.

The vulnerable puppy is one of hundreds of pets abandoned in Somerset, which has seen a 5% increase in just three years. Latest figures for 2023 show nearly 300 pets were abandoned in the county. To report a concern, visit: https://www.rspca.org.uk/reportaconcern

The RSPCA believes the surge in pet ownership during the Covid-19 lockdown and the increasing financial hardships due to soaring living costs have led to the increase in people dumping their pets.

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RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs said: “Our rescuers are regularly coming across dogs in poor health, collapsed and left in isolated spots to suffer a lingering death; sick kittens discarded in cardboard boxes who are lucky to be found alive; or pet rabbits dumped in the wild with little chance of survival against predators.”

“With the cost-of-living crisis we are also seeing people having to move out of properties due to financial pressures, and we are increasingly coming across pets who have been left locked in homes alone.”

The RPSCA believes this winter will be particularly bleak for face for thousands of animals, and has launched its Join The Christmas Rescue campaign.

The RSPCA’s campaign aims to bring joy and safety to animals, as it seeks to change the lives of those animals which are terrified and injured this Christmas.

If you find a small pet who has been abandoned, the RSPCA advice is to take them directly to a local vet or rescue centre. These teams can call in the expertise of the RSPCA’s teams if there’s evidence that the animal has been neglected or abused.