Monster who gouged out cat's eyes and left pet on doorstep being hunted by cops
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#RSPCA
#RSPCA #ChesterZoo Re #zoos & re-educating zoologists, I accept captive breeding & release can save species BUT, respecting EVOLUTION, such #conservation, rehabilitation & education should be done (my WalkaboutsVerse #poem) "In Situ" http://walkaboutsverse.blogspot.com/2010/04/walkaboutsverse-203-of-230.html
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2026-02-25High on crack cocaine, he killed his cat before coming out with a pathetic excuse
Scared dog finds perfect spot to shelter during thunderstorms and it's melting hearts
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2026-02-19Appeal after video surfaces showing dog being 'picked up by collar and beaten'
Conservative Qld Govt once again proving to the world the state is stuck in the ‘50s – the 1850s.
And they think they’re fit to host the world at #2032Olympics.
#auspol #qldpol #Olympics #2032Games #DPI #RSPCA #AnimalCruelty #AnimalProtection #ThisIsNotJustice
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Charges over 'shocking' abuse ...
‘Chaos, heartbreak and toothbrushes’: RSPCA heroes look back 30 years after the Sea Empress disaster
It was just after 10.30pm on 15 February 1996 when the call came through: a tanker had hit rocks off Pembrokeshire and was leaking oil. Within hours, the Sea Empress spill would become one of the UK’s worst environmental disasters — and the RSPCA would find itself at the centre of a rescue mission unlike anything it had faced before.
The single‑hulled tanker had torn open on its approach to the Cleddau Estuary, releasing 130,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea. As the slick spread, thousands of seabirds were engulfed. The RSPCA’s response would stretch from Tenby to the Gower, from makeshift industrial units to lifeboats scouring the islands.
And for the staff who lived it, the memories remain vivid.
‘I pulled over the van. I knew this was big.’
RSPCA Chief Inspector Richard Abbott interviewed by Sky News at St Anne’s Head in front of the Sea Empress in 1996.Richard Abbott, now an RSPCA Chief Inspector, was on duty that night.
“I recall speaking to a Brecon RCC tasker who said they’d had a call saying a tanker had run aground at Milford Haven and was leaking 30,000 gallons of oil,” he said. “I asked them to double‑check. Five minutes later they rang back and said the Coastguard had confirmed it.”
He pulled over his van on the roadside.
“I rang the Chief Inspector at home and started the response. I knew this was big.”
By the next morning, Abbott was in a room full of senior officials from across the UK — all waiting to see where the oil would land.
RSPCA Mallydams Wood Centre Supervisor releases oiled guillemots back to the wild on Pett Level beach in Hastings, East Sussex.“We knew it was out there, but we didn’t know if it was coming down the estuary. Then we saw it starting to move. That’s when everything changed.”
‘They turned to the RSPCA and said: can you lead this?’
Romain de Kerckhove, now Chief Inspector for Mid and West Wales, had been part of a contingency planning group the year before.
“They turned to the RSPCA and asked if we could coordinate volunteers in the event of an oil spill — one we all hoped would never happen,” he said.
When the Sea Empress hit the rocks, that responsibility became real.
“We started putting a plan together to send people to beaches. Then the birds started coming in. We were only just setting up the makeshift hospital at Thornton Industrial Estate.”
The press put out a call for volunteers — and the response was overwhelming.
“Dozens and dozens — if not hundreds — turned up,” he said. “Everyone meant well, but if one bird was spotted, 50 people would charge down the beach trying to reach it first.”
Inspectors were each assigned a beach, armed with cardboard boxes and little else.
“Those birds we found alive were literally caked in oil and sand, in their eyes, up their nostrils and in their beaks,”‘It was chaos. But it clicked into place.’
Transit vans were emptied and repurposed as bird ambulances. Crews went out in boats. Volunteers combed beaches. And the birds kept coming.
“At the height of it, we took in 760 birds in one day,” Abbott said.
By 5 March, the numbers were stark: 2,542 birds found dead. 3,142 rescued by the RSPCA. 757 died in care.
Most were common scoters, but guillemots, divers, gulls and swans also arrived in huge numbers.
‘We needed toothbrushes. We got 10,000.’
The public response was extraordinary.
“We used towels, washing‑up liquid, toothbrushes,” Romain said. “After it went on the news, carloads of donations turned up. Every day I’d open the mail and there’d be jiffy bags full of used toothbrushes.”
Then Procter & Gamble called.
“Before we knew it, we had mountains of Fairy Liquid. We probably needed 200 toothbrushes — we ended up with about 10,000.”
Some volunteers washed birds. Others cleaned floors. One man from Germany chopped fish all day, every day.
“He was amazing,” said Richard Thompson, now Wildlife Rehabilitation Team Manager at Mallydams.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Team Manager Richard Thompson catching gulls with a net in the outside pool.‘Some days you just collected bodies.’
Neil Tysall, now an RSPCA Intelligence Officer, remembers the emotional toll.
“Those birds we found alive were literally caked in oil and sand — in their eyes, up their nostrils, in their beaks,” he said. “Some days it felt like you just collected bodies. Everything was covered in oil.”
His high‑vis jacket “always smelt slightly of crude oil for years to come”.
“What I would have given for my jacket to have been the worst casualty rather than all that unnecessary loss of life.”
‘We worked 14‑hour days. It was exhausting — and rewarding.’
At West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Somerset, staff were working around the clock.
“We were doing 12 to 14‑hour days,” said Wildlife Supervisor Paul Oaten. “You’d come in at 8am and stay until at least 10pm. Ten days on, one day off, then back again.”
Birds were washed in teams of two — one holding, one cleaning.
“It was vital to get the oil off their plumage. Not just for waterproofing, but to stop them ingesting it.”
Once cleaned, birds were moved to pools to test whether they were waterproof enough to survive at sea.
“We’d have officers on duty all night checking them,” Abbott said. “If they couldn’t get onto the little islands in the pools, they’d drown.”
Releases were delayed by bad weather and lingering oil. Eventually, many birds were taken to Borth in north Wales to be freed.
Sea Empress Disaster Medal (RSPCA Archives)‘It was one of the most magnificent rescue operations in RSPCA history.’
RSPCA Chief Inspectorate Officer Steve Bennett said the anniversary is a moment to honour the staff and volunteers who turned “a scene of unnecessary loss of life” into “a story of hope and recovery”.
“Whether you were patrolling beaches in the dark, coordinating chaos in the control room, or spending 14‑hour shifts washing oil from delicate feathers with toothbrushes and Fairy Liquid — your commitment saved lives,” he said.
“This operation was far too large for any one entity to handle alone. The recovery of the 3,142 birds rescued was a testament to incredible collaboration.”
He said the lessons learned in 1996 shaped the RSPCA’s modern wildlife response.
“We are better, faster and more scientifically equipped today because of the trials we faced at Thornton Industrial Estate and our wildlife centres.”
A legacy that still matters
Large‑scale oil spills are now rare, but the RSPCA still treats hundreds of birds affected by smaller leaks each year.
Over the past five years, the charity has cared for 289 birds contaminated by oil or other pollutants.
For the staff who were there in 1996, the Sea Empress disaster remains a defining moment.
#CleddauEstuary #divers #guillemots #gulls #oilSpill #Pembrokeshire #RSPCA #seaBirds #SeaEmpress #SeaEmpressDisaster“It was full‑on, exhausting, chaotic,” Oaten said. “But it was also one of the most rewarding things we’ve ever done.”
Elvis has left the building! Rescued seal pup returns to the wild after months of rehab
The young grey seal, rescued from the rocks at Porthcawl seafront back in September, has been released into the open waters after a long stint at the RSPCA’s West Hatch Wildlife Centre. And in true showbiz style, she didn’t go alone.
Elvis — who turned out to be a she — was one of six seals returned to the wild on Monday, alongside a line‑up of fellow marine “celebrities” named Sleep Token, Wurzel, Arctic Monkey, Benson Boone and Fleetwood Mac.
Found injured, starving and alone
Elvis was first spotted in trouble on the Porthcawl coastline, injured, malnourished and separated from her mother. She was brought to safety by British Divers Marine Life Rescue with support from the local RNLI crew, before being transferred to the RSPCA for round‑the‑clock care.
At just 13.6kg, she needed antibiotics for wounds on her fore flippers and chin, and weeks of careful feeding to build her strength.
Elvis the rescued seal pup peeks out of her carrier as she’s released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation.(Image: RSPCA)
From intensive care to deep‑water training
At West Hatch, seal pups start life in intensive care pens before graduating to outdoor pools once they’re strong enough to self‑feed. Elvis spent her final weeks in one of the centre’s deeper pools with another seal named Dido, waiting for storms to pass before she could be released.
RSPCA Wildlife Supervisor Ryan Walker said watching Elvis swim free was “a wonderful moment”.
Elvis takes her first confident swim in open water after being released following months of care at RSPCA West Hatch.“Elvis progressed through rehabilitation very well,” he said. “Once she gained enough weight she was fit for release. We’re delighted she is now where she belongs — along with the other seals too.”
(Image: RSPCA)
A pricey rescue season
Seal season runs from September to March, and the RSPCA says each pup can cost around £1,400 a week in fish and veterinary care. Before release, the animals are tagged for identification, and many are later spotted thriving in the wild.
This group was released from the Devon coast — just a short swim from where Elvis was originally found.
Meet the rest of the “band”
The full release line‑up included:
- Benson Boone – rescued from Pembrokeshire, lethargic and underweight
- Sleep Token – rescued from Cornwall with multiple wounds
- Arctic Monkey – one of the first rescues of the season, found in Devon
- Wurzel – rescued from Cornwall, underweight and injured
- Fleetwood Mac – rescued from Devon with wounds and low weight
(Image: RSPCA)
RSPCA photographer Emma Jacobs, who documented their progress, said it was “wonderful” to see the group return to the sea.
“Our precious wildlife desperately needs our help,” she said. “It’s been amazing to follow this group as they gained strength ready for release.”
Public urged to keep distance from seals
The RSPCA is reminding beachgoers to keep their distance from seals — and keep dogs on leads — especially during pupping season.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ellie West said:
Rehabilitated seal pups make their way towards the water after being released from their carriers.“It’s not unusual to see a seal pup by itself. Mothers leave pups alone while they feed. If the pup looks healthy, monitor it from a safe distance for 24 hours.”
(Image: RSPCA)
Anyone concerned about an injured or distressed seal is urged to call the RSPCA emergency line on 0300 1234 999.
#Pembrokeshire #Porthcawl #RSPCA #sealRescue #Seals
Woman found keeping 21 cats, a dog and a python in filthy east London flat
Sadistic animal abuser burned puppy's face with cigarettes and broke its bones
https://www.fogolf.com/1150048/flying-foxes-tangled-in-nets-at-noosa-golf-club-spark-urgent-wildlife-response/ Flying foxes tangled in nets at Noosa Golf Club spark urgent wildlife response #animals #business #Golf #GolfNews #nature #news #QueenslandNews #RSPCA #SunshineCoast #travel #Wildlife
#Countryfile #RSPCA Selective breeding means cruel castration, often via elastic bands, for all but a few males; thus bulls have become too big for a halter & are steered, rather, via a nose ring & pain; my WalkaboutsVerse #poem, with #pics, "A Good Life" http://walkaboutsverse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/walkaboutsverse-95-of-230.html
Could you fall in love with a rescue pet this Dydd Santes Dwynwen?
The Welsh patron saint of lovers also happens to be the patron saint of sick animals, and the charity says there’s no better time to open your heart to a pet who’s been waiting far too long for a forever home.
Cats Lucky, Jim and Cariad — along with long‑stay rabbits Pleakley and Stitch — are all hoping Dydd Santes Dwynwen brings them the happy ending they deserve.
Lucky: the gentle older boy who lost everything
Lucky, a 12‑year‑old cat now in the care of RSPCA Newport Animal Centre, arrived after his owner passed away. Staff say the upheaval has been a huge shock for him.
Deputy Centre Manager Amirah Jones said: “He arrived to us through the ‘Home for Life’ scheme due to his owner sadly passing away. The change from home life into our care has understandably been a big adjustment for him. Despite everything he’s been through, Lucky remains a sweet, gentle soul. He’s happiest curled up in his bed, enjoying a quiet space where he can relax and feel safe.”
Lucky needs an adult‑only, quiet home where he can settle slowly and be the only pet.
Amirah added: “Lucky is looking for someone with a big heart who understands that older cats still have so much love to give. We hope he finds love this St Dwynwen’s Day.”
Who was Santes Dwynwen?
Santes Dwynwen is Wales’ patron saint of lovers, celebrated each year on 25 January. Her story dates back to the 5th century, when she devoted her life to faith after a tragic romance and prayed for the happiness of others in love.
Dwynwen is also considered the patron saint of sick animals, giving her a special place in Welsh folklore and making her feast day a popular moment for celebrating compassion, companionship and new beginnings.
Read more about the history of Dydd Santes Dwynwen here:
The story behind the Welsh saint of lovers
Jim: the sensitive soul who just needs time
Jim, a sweet and sensitive boy, is ready to find his forever match after being abandoned.(Image: RSPCA)
Five‑year‑old Jim was abandoned before arriving at the Newport centre. Staff say he’s a thoughtful, gentle cat who blossoms once he feels safe.
Amirah said: “Jim likes to take his time getting to know new people and environments but once he feels secure, he grows in confidence and shows his super friendly side. He’s excellent at entertaining himself and enjoys calm companionship once he knows he can trust you.”
Jim would suit a home with older children and no other pets.
Cariad: the shy young mum who needs patience
Cariad, a shy young mum, is slowly learning to trust again after raising six kittens in RSPCA care.(Image: RSPCA)
Cariad arrived at RSPCA Bryn‑Y‑Maen heavily pregnant and terrified. She gave birth to six kittens shortly after arriving and proved to be a devoted mother — but the busy cattery was too overwhelming for her, so she moved into foster care.
Animal Centre Supervisor Callum Bartley said: “We feel Cariad needs a quiet, calm, and predictable environment to feel safe. She will need patient owners experienced with nervous or shy cats. With the right understanding and gentle approach, this lady will blossom into a sweet companion.”
Cariad needs an adult‑only, dog‑free home where she can be the only pet.
Pleakley and Stitch: the long‑stay rabbits waiting for a second chance
Pleakley, a laid-back lad with a love of treats, is still waiting for his forever home after nearly a year.Stitch, a clever and curious rabbit, is hoping to find a forever home after nearly a year in RSPCA care.Pleakley and Stitch have been in RSPCA care for almost a year after struggling to settle in previous homes. Both are now at Bryn‑Y‑Maen and looking for separate homes with owners who understand nervous rabbits.
Animal Care Assistant Nicole Rowson said: “Unfortunately Pleakley and Stitch have been in RSPCA for far too long. They both really struggled to adapt to a home environment as they have only experienced life in an RSPCA centre.”
Stitch is shy but affectionate once he trusts you, while Pleakley is laid‑back and food‑motivated.
Nicole added: “They will both need time, patience and gradual introductions to a new rabbit friend — but we feel both can do this.”
How to adopt
Anyone interested in rehoming Lucky or Jim the cats can complete an online application form on the RSPCA’s Newport site. If you’re interested in adopting Cariad the cat or Pleakley and Stitch the rabbits, then you can find out more through Brynmelin’s contact form.
The charity is also urging potential adopters to consider the long‑term costs of pet ownership, and to use its pet cost calculator before committing.
More animals looking for homes can be found on the RSPCA’s Find a Pet webpage.
Rising need as abandonment hits six‑year high
The RSPCA says abandonment reports are on track to reach a six‑year high, with frontline teams facing growing pressure. The charity has launched its Big Give Back to Animals campaign to support rescue and rehoming work through the winter.
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Pembrokeshire woman banned from keeping animals after dog found with shocking untreated facial wound
Dog found with infected wound and “skin hanging off”
The RSPCA said officers were called to a property in Milford Haven on 5 April last year after Dyfed‑Powys Police reported concerns about a dog in distress. When they arrived, the charity said they found Andy, a black labrador, with a large piece of skin hanging from an infected wound on the side of his mouth.
The charity said the injury may have been caused by a burst abscess and that Andy was also underweight when he was examined by vets.
Pictures of Andy’s injuries are too graphic to publish, but the RSPCA said the wound had a “strong smell of infection” and required urgent veterinary treatment.
Owner admits failing to meet dog’s needs
Andy’s owner, Candice Mottram, 32, from Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of her dog under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. She was sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on 15 January.
As well as the 10‑year ban, Mottram received an 18‑week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. She must complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and agreed to wear an alcohol tag for 120 days. The court also ordered her to pay £400 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
“A huge flap of skin hanging from his face”
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Paula Milton said the condition Andy was found in was deeply concerning.
“Andy had a huge flap of skin hanging from the left side of his face. There was a very strong smell of infection and where the skin had come off his mouth was bright red.”
The RSPCA said Mottram told officers the dog had last seen a vet two weeks earlier, but checks later revealed Andy had not been examined since 2021.
A vet who assessed him said Andy was in poor body condition, scoring two to three out of nine, with his ribs and pelvic bones visible.
Surgery and recovery
Andy underwent surgery to remove the damaged skin and treat the wound. He was then taken into RSPCA care, where he has since put on weight and recovered well.
RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben, who investigated the case, said the dog’s condition was avoidable.
“It was a shock to see how bad Andy’s facial wound was. The wound was obvious and the defendant had plenty of time to get the poor dog to a vets.”
He said Andy has been doing well in foster care and is expected to be ready for rehoming soon.
“Inexcusable and shocking”
The district judge who sentenced Mottram said her behaviour was “inexcusable and shocking”, noting that she had failed to seek help for an injury that caused prolonged suffering.
Andy is now recovering in a foster home, with the RSPCA saying he has healed well and is “a lovely dog” who deserves a fresh start.
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Couple jailed after 52 animals found living in ‘filthy’ home with some suffering
A joint operation by Dyfed‑Powys Police, the RSPCA and two vets uncovered the animals inside a house on Coombs Road on 29 December 2024. Officers found 29 dogs, 17 snakes, a Hermann’s tortoise, a leopard gecko and a monitor lizard. Two dead dogs and a dead snake were also discovered.
Swansea Crown Court heard that many of the animals were living in squalor, with some suffering from untreated injuries, emaciation and severe neglect. The RSPCA said the smell of dog faeces and urine inside the house was “overpowering”.
Jail sentences and long animal bans
Zoe Louise Graham, 32, was jailed for 18 months and banned from keeping animals for 15 years. Lee Peter Lock, 38, was jailed for 27 months and banned for 25 years.
Both had previously admitted multiple offences under the Animal Welfare Act, including causing unnecessary suffering to several French Bulldogs and failing to meet the basic needs of dozens of dogs and exotic animals.
The court heard the pair failed to seek veterinary treatment for serious conditions — including a ruptured rectum, untreated eye disease, chronic discomfort, ulcerations and severe emaciation. Several snakes were also found suffering from neglect, with some so underweight they later had to be euthanised.
‘Filthy conditions’ throughout the house
In a written statement, RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben said he was “hit by a strong smell of dog faeces and urine” as soon as he entered the property.
He described rooms strewn with rubbish, cages “in filthy soiled conditions”, mouldy food, and dogs living in cramped pens where faeces covered the floor.
Some French Bulldog puppies were only days old. Others were thin, dehydrated or living without bedding. A cream‑coloured French Bulldog in the kitchen had ribs “easily visible”.
In the back yard, two collie‑type dogs were found in mud and faeces with no clean area to stand. Inside a shed, officers found a container of green, dirty water and conditions so foul that Inspector Hogben said he “coughed and gagged”.
A dead Bulldog was found in a plastic dog bed in the shed, while another dead dog was discovered in a freezer. A vet later confirmed both had suffered — one from a ruptured rectum, the other from extreme emaciation.
Snakes, tortoise and gecko also neglected
Inside the living room, officers found multiple vivariums containing snakes in poor condition, with dirty water, soiled substrate and no enrichment. Some snakes were thin with their spines visible.
A tortoise and a gecko were found housed together in a single vivarium with no water, no UVB lighting and no proper environment. The gecko later died.
A monitor lizard was found in a plastic tray but was alert and had access to water.
Most animals now rehomed
In total, 17 live snakes, the tortoise, gecko and monitor lizard were seized and placed in specialist care. Several snakes later died or were euthanised on welfare grounds.
Most of the surviving dogs have since been rehomed by the RSPCA. Four dogs that remained in legal limbo during the court case have now been signed over and will also be rehomed.
Following sentencing, Inspector Hogben said: “It was a real team effort, and although not all the animals survived, it is great to see those who have been rehomed into loving homes.”
Sergeant Paul Roberts, of Dyfed‑Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team, said the case showed “excellent partnership working to target some of the most upsetting animal welfare offences.”
The court heard in mitigation that the pair had taken in homeless animals and the situation became “unmanageable”, but the judge ruled the level of suffering was severe and prolonged.
#animalCruelty #animalWelfare #Dogs #FrenchBulldog #Gecko #MilfordHaven #MonitorLizard #RSPCA #snakes #Tortoise
RSPCA reports that 71% of British people are "animal lovers" but...
... animal cruelty is increasing
... 42% of British people say they have witnessed animal cruelty in the last 12 months (up from 37% in 2025)
... consumption of factory-farmed meat increased in UK 2024-2025
https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/latest/kindnessindex/2025/findings
Robins will come 'right up to your window' if you leave out any 5 kitchen leftovers in your garden
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RSPCA alert as these dog breeds more 'at risk' of winter illness
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