It's 8am on July 20 at RSPCA control and the charity's call handlers are braced for harrowing reports of neglect and cruelty. Typically the charity's busiest day of the year, both rescue teams and those caring for pets and wildlife are rushed off their feet.
To highlight the charity's work, the RSPCA shared a handful of calls and cases they dealt with. But it's just a glimpse - almost 6,000 reports were made to the cruelty hotline between 8am and 8pm that day.
The RSPCA usually receives about 90,000 calls every month and investigates 6,000 reports of deliberate animal cruelty. But during July and August calls rise to 134,000 a month, or three every minute.
Jill Smith, RSPCA specialist manager at the RSPCA National Control Centre, said: “Every day is busy at the RSPCA as we receive more than a million calls a year. But summer is our peak time and this recent heatwave has put extra pressure on our call takers and support staff, frontline rescuers, vets and centres and branches who care for the animal victims of neglect and cruelty.
“We urge anyone thinking of calling to check the website first to see if the advice is there and, where possible and safe, to help the animal themselves or get it to a vet if needed. This really helps free up our cruelty line and our frontline rescuers to focus on investigating the heartbreaking cruelty and neglect cases which flood in over summer."
Reports of beatings, shootings, abandonments and poisonings in particular increase for the charity over the summer months. This sad fact prompted the charity to launch its Cancel out Cruelty fundraising campaign.
“This year we are bracing ourselves for a summer of suffering with an increase in pet ownership during the pandemic and the cost of living crisis," said Jill. “That is why we need the public's support more than ever to help Cancel Out Cruelty so our call staff, frontline rescuers along with centre and branch staff can work together to help all those animals in need.”
8am
The first reports come in as soon as the phone lines open including one about a cat abandoned inside a backpack-style carrier at a car park in Greenwich in London. The ginger and white cat was found at 5.45am and it’s believed it had been dumped the day before - one of the hottest days ever recorded.
In Teddington, London, a report comes in about a severely injured young fox which has been attacked by a dog and was seen dragging itself along by its front legs before collapsing. Sadly the animal had to be put to sleep.
9am
In Skegness, a weak and injured stray cat was found trapped in a dyke and unable to move. Inspector Andrew Bostock managed to reach and rescue the cat but sadly its injuries were too severe to save it.
10am
Two kittens called William and Harry were thrown off a balcony in London - twice. Miraculously they were uninjured and are being cared for, along with their sister Camilla and mum Elizabeth, by a team in West Sussex.
12noon
A dog was apparently left abandoned in a filthy garden in with no food, water or shelter in the sweltering heat. It was transported to the safety of an RSPCA branch to be rehabilitated and eventually rehomed.
1pm
In Leicester, Inspector Herchy Boal was sent to reports of a horse which has been tethered on some land but had no food and water and no shelter despite the hot temperatures. While checking on the condition of the horse the owner made himself known and Herchy gave him advice.
2pm
Two neglected dogs found dumped at the side of a remote road in Cheshire received urgent veterinary attention. The terrier-types are thought to be mother and daughter and both are underweight, with skin conditions and flea infestations.
One has a fractured leg and a severely injured eye which will have to be removed. The animals were found on the hottest day of the year on a quiet country lane near Macclesfield.
3pm
In Kent, Inspector Rosie Russon prepares to respond to a call about a stray Jack Russell Terrier who has been spotted with half its body covered in sarcoptic mange. Staffy cross Missy meanile received hydrotherapy treatment at RSPCA Mount Noddy in Chichester after suffered a broken pelvis.
It is believed the one-year-old dog was beaten and pushed off a balcony. She was left with no pain relief for months before being brought into the RSPCA.
4pm
Daniel the rabbit was found abandoned in a park in Suffolk with a serious injury to his nose requiring plastic surgery. Animal Rescue Officer Paige Burnham is called to rescue two abandoned rabbits with injuries to their ears.
The bunnies were found in a cardboard box under a hedge in Attleborough near Norfolk. They had no food or water, just a soiled cardboard box and had been left out in the heat.
7pm
A sick seal was rescued from Blakeney, also in Norfolk, by the charity The British Divers Marine Life Rescue and rushed to East Winch Wildlife Centre, Norfolk suffering from heat exhaustion. The seal pup, thought to be less than a week old, weighed just 7.5kg.
The centre vet and staff continued to monitor the pup named Banana Split throughout the evening. He remained in critical care but sadly died.
8pm
A council worker found an injured pigeon which had been kicked by a group of youngsters in King’s Lynn. The man managed to pick up the pigeon and took it straight to East Winch Wildlife Centre for urgent veterinary treatment.
To support the RSPCA, visit www.rspca.org.uk/stopcruelty
