RSCPA in Bedfordshire deals with six cases a day during lockdown

In the month since the start of the lockdown, the RSPCA in Bedfordshire has dealt with 195 incidents.

The charity has released the figures as part of its emergency appeal, launched to keep its rescue teams out on the road during the coronavirus crisis and continuing to rescue animals most in need.

RSPCA rescuers have even recorded vlogs to show what it’s like working on the frontline, in RSPCA animal hospitals and in animal centres during lockdown.

Since the Government announced the lockdown in the county, the RSPCA has dealt with more than six incidents a day.

Nationally, the RSPCA has dealt with more than 21,000 animal incidents - an average of 660 a day, or 27 an hour

Among the animals rescued include a lurcher named Harvey who was abandoned in a garden in Norfolk. An RSPCA inspector spent two hours trying to get the frightened dog to trust her enough to allow her to put him on a lead.

Harvey has now been taken in by the RSPCA and is one of 4,200 animals the charity continues to care for during lockdown.

Among the animals which have been rescued since lockdown started are:

*A stray newborn kitten found with a wound across his body caused by a piece of ligature, rescued from a garden in Birmingham

*A pheasant which was rescued from a car grille after being stuck there for EIGHT days

*A dehydrated baby owlet which was found struggling to survive in a village in Suffolk

*Three rabbits which were dumped with fly-litter in Essex

Dermot Murphy, chief inspectorate officer, said: “Despite the lockdown, there are still thousands of animals which need our help.

“The coronavirus crisis hasn't put a stop to animal suffering and these figures show there are still many animals out there that need rescuing.”

As well as operating an emergency service, rescuing animals in need, RSPCA officers have also been collecting animals from the homes of people who have been admitted to hospital with Covid-19.

The RSPCA is also urging pet owners to make an emergency pet-care plan should they be admitted to hospital with coronavirus, including placing a poster in the window informing people that there are pets inside.

To help the RSPCA keep rescuing animals, you can donate here