An urgent investigation is underway after two severely unwell domestic rats were callously dumped at the gates of a Birmingham park during heavy rainfall.
A Heartbreaking Discovery
The incident occurred on Friday, November 28, when a member of the public discovered the two rats inside a cat carrier with no food, water, or proper shelter at Brook Meadow Park. The finder took the drenched animals home before alerting the authorities.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Sophie Taylor subsequently transferred the vulnerable pets to the charity's Newbrook Animal Hospital for emergency care. Tragically, one of the rats, which was suffering from a large growth on its body, had to be put to sleep on welfare grounds.
Fight for Survival and National Crisis
The second rat, which has a significant eye injury, is now being closely monitored by RSPCA staff. The charity is hopeful that she will respond to the emergency treatment she is receiving.
This distressing case comes as the RSPCA reveals a shocking 23% increase in animal abandonment reports across England and Wales. The figure has soared to 24,270 incidents in the first ten months of this year, up from 19,727 during the same period last year. In the West Midlands alone, there have been 1,085 abandonment incidents.
Public Appeal for Information
The RSPCA is now urgently appealing for information to find the person responsible for abandoning the rats. Officer Sophie Taylor stated: "These poor rats were in such a bad way... No matter how hard things get, dumping animals like this is never acceptable."
She emphasised the charity's cost of living hub offers support for those struggling and expressed heartbreak that the animals were left in cold, wet weather. The RSPCA is asking anyone in the area who saw anything suspicious or who can check CCTV or doorbell footage to come forward.
With winter bringing plummeting temperatures, the charity fears the situation for pets could worsen. They have launched their Big Give Back to Animals campaign to raise vital funds for their frontline rescue teams.
