A stuffed tiger, a King Cobra and a plastic chair floating the other way up in a river have been among the many comical objects the RSPCA have been referred to as out to rescue final 12 months after they have been mistaken for animals in misery.
The animal welfare charity, whose inspectors responded to greater than 28,000 incidents final 12 months, has revealed the wackiest animal rescues officers have been despatched out to in 2021.
Among the many ‘funniest call-outs’ was a ‘King Cobra’ which turned out to be a toy snake, a ‘squealing’ canine which was in reality a stuffed toy tiger and ‘useless badger’ which was quickly discovered to be the upturned contents of a flower pot.
Different unusual call-outs included a trapped swan which turned out to be a plastic chair and a tangled fowl in a flag pole which was in reality a plastic fowl scarer.
In Might final 12 months RSPCA inspector Dale Grant acquired a name reporting a canine tethered to a canal boat within the Grand Union Canal in Hayes ‘squealing and crying’.
RSPCA inspector Dale Grant acquired a name reporting a canine tethered to a canal boat within the Grand Union Canal in Hayes however when he arrived to the scene he found it was a stuffed toy tiger
On June 23 final 12 months, a RSPCA officer was despatched out to a Cumbria backyard after a girl believed she had noticed a King Cobra sitting on a chair however the snake was plastic and had come from kids in a neighbouring backyard
Involved for its welfare, Mr Grant rushed to the canal in west London to seek out the ‘canine’ was in reality a stuffed tiger.
Mr Grant mentioned: ‘I used to be actually nervous that I may very well be strolling right into a dire state of affairs involving a canine in a extremely harmful predicament nevertheless it seems I needn’t have nervous.
‘The ‘canine’ in query turned out to be a stuffed toy tiger that had been tied onto the bow of the boat!’
On June 23 final 12 months, RSPCA officers have been despatched out to a Cumbria backyard after a girl believed she had noticed a ‘King Cobra’ sitting on a chair in her backyard.
Animal rescuer Martyn Fletcher arrived on the property to find that the snake was plastic and had come from kids in a neighbouring backyard.
He mentioned: ‘It did not take me too lengthy to grasp that this King Cobra was the plastic variety – fortunately too, as they’re lethal venomous snakes.
‘Clearly we’re skilled to have the ability to establish snakes however it’s not so apparent to members of the general public – so I perceive they could have been spooked by the sighting.
‘It seems that the toy had come from kids in a neighbouring backyard – so the snake has now been returned to its residence!’
And in April RSPCA officer Lisa Miller was despatched out to Woolwich, south east London, following a name from a girl a couple of fowl tangled in a flag pole.
However when she arrived to the scene she found it was not a stay fowl however a plastic fowl scarer.
Ms Miller mentioned: ‘The lady had noticed the fowl caught in string and tangled with the flag pole. She mentioned the fowl had been attempting to fly away however could not free itself.
‘After I arrived on the scene I rapidly established that I would not have to launch a rescue mission; because it was a plastic fowl scarer! She was very embarrassed however we had a giggle and I advised her she ought to go to Specsavers!’
And in February RSPPCA officer Graham Hammond rushed to the River Stour in Dorset after a passing motorist knowledgeable the animal welfare charity they’d seen a swan trapped within the electrical fencing.
One RSPCA officer rushed to the River Stour in Dorset after a passing motorist knowledgeable the animal welfare charity they’d seen a swan trapped within the electrical fencing. However once they received to the scene they discovered it was a plastic chair
In April RSPCA officer Lisa Miller was despatched out to Woolwich, south east London, following a name from a girl a couple of fowl tangled in a flag pole however when she arrived to the scene she found it was a plastic fowl scarer
In January final 12 months RSPCA animal rescue officer Shane Lynn acquired a name a couple of duck caught within the frozen pond however when he arrived he discovered it was a plastic decoration
Nonetheless when he arrived on the scene he found the ‘swan’ was a white plastic chair floating within the water.
He mentioned: ‘I went out to test on the fowl and had ready to name out the water rescue workforce for back-up however, earlier than they hit the highway, I managed to get nearer and get have a look at the ‘fowl’ – which turned out to be a white plastic chair floating within the water!’
On January 7 final 12 months, RSPCA animal rescue officer Shane Lynn was very involved when he had a name come from a girl reporting a duck caught within the ice.
He mentioned: ‘The caller claimed the fowl had been caught within the frozen pond for 2 days and hadn’t been capable of transfer.’
Mr Lynn braved the icy situations to drive over to Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, to assist the stricken fowl however he quickly discovered it was not a fowl in any respect.
He added: ‘As quickly as I arrived and situated the pond I realised my assist would not be required because the duck was in reality a plastic decoration!’
All through 2021, the RSPCA acquired 281,390 experiences of trapped animals – one of many charity’s busiest ever years.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA mentioned: ‘No day is ever the identical on the RSPCA and we get referred to as to the bizarre in addition to the unhappy. One factor you study in a short time on this job is to anticipate the surprising!
‘Whereas these calls actually gave us a chuckle there’s additionally an essential message right here: we’re stretched an increasing number of every year and, whereas we respect that each one of those callers have been attempting to do their greatest and assist what they believed to be an animal in want, we would urge the general public to cease, assume and test earlier than asking us for assist.
‘We would hate to ship an officer out to rescue a distressed canine that turned out to be a stuffed toy or an deserted snake that was in reality a plastic toy and miss out on rescuing an actual animal in want.’
Earlier this month the charity revealed that officers responded to a complete of 58,394 calls from members of the general public all through the entire of December.
There have been 1478 experiences of deserted animals – which is up 29 per cent on final 12 months when the groups have been referred to as to experiences of 1,049 deserted animals throughout the identical interval.
Dermot Murphy, who heads the RSPCA frontline rescue groups, mentioned: ‘We’re already seeing abandonments rise month on month and are braced for a surge of deserted and uncared for animals as pet possession soared throughout lockdown, with an estimated 3.2m folks welcoming pets into their lives final 12 months.’