Pets Magazine

A daring rescue mission in the North Sea led to save a dog after it was blown out to the sea in strong winds near Northumberland.

Animal rescue centres have said they are seeing rising numbers of cats being neglected, abused and abandoned. In March 2024, the RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield and Bradford branch took 50 cats into its care, but in 2026 it accepted 80. The charity said there had been a record number of cats in national RSPCA centres, with about a third of them in emergency catteries. Katie Lloyd, from independent charity Bradford Cat Watch, said she was seeing the highest level of abuse and neglect for 20 years. "I can understand people struggle to pay for these things – however, what I cannot understand is the increasing abuse, wilful abuse," she said. "We're seeing horrendous injuries coming in, cats with wounds that are left untreated, and a lot of accidents that are left untreated, because no one will step in and help them." Bradford Cat Watch is a volunteer-run organisation that nurses ill cats and helps them find homes. Last year it rehomed 200 cats and raised more than £80,000. Lloyd said she was receiving 50 to 60 calls a day and was often having to turn away animals in need. "I can only hope that things improve, whether they do or not I don't know because in the last 20 years things have got significantly worse," she said