The number of animals being dumped by their owners rose sharply across the region, including Shropshire, new figures reveal today.

The RSPCA today said it had rescued 24,998 animals from dangerous and distressing situations.

Overall numbers of animals rescued in the Wales & West region shot up by 73 per cent after an increase in cases of animals being abandoned by their owners – from 828 in 2006 to 1,434 in 2007.

Nearly half of these were cats – 657 – with 305 small domestic animals which includes rabbits and guinea pigs.

The biggest increase in abandonments regionally was of exotic animals from seven in 2006 to 43 in 2007.

The report reveals an 80 per cent increase numbers of horses and ponies rescued, a 208 per cent rise in farm animal rescues and a 21 per cent increase in the rescue of wild mammals.

Martyn Hubbard, Regional Superintendent for Wales & West, said: “Last summer we deployed the biggest number of RSPCA staff for a generation to the rescue of farm animals, horses and other much-loved pets from the severe floods that swept the country.

“It is an offence to abandon any animal and there is never any excuse for doing so. If people have pets they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is always available from the RSPCA.”

Animals rescued in the region include five kittens dumped in a dustbin that filled with rainwater in Shifnal. Two had drowned.

Officers also rescued a cat found shivering in thick snow in Madeley, Telford, and seven baby rabbits found abandoned in a box, also in Telford.

In January a young male boxer dog left tied to a post on a cycle track close to the Willey Moor Pub, in Whitchurch, had to be rescued.

From hawks trapped in trees, hamsters dumped in a plastic tubs, cattle stranded in flooded fields to dogs left injured and abandoned the animal welfare charity has had a busy year nationwide rescuing 150,000 animals.

The news comes at the start today of RSPCA Week – the society’s largest annual fundraising push.

By Tom Johannsen