RSPCA rescuers spent their fourth weekend in a row on standby ready to help animals – and people – caught up in the floods as Storm Jorge brought fresh rainfall to the UK.
The animal welfare charity is part of Defra’s National Flood Response Team and has around 65 officers – trained and equipped to deal with flood-stricken animals – and a fleet of 35 inflatable boats.
The RSPCA launched an emergency fundraising appeal in the aftermath of Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis which saw the charity’s specialist water rescue team scrambled to respond to more than 200 calls. The team received another 46 calls during Storm Jorge, going out to check on sheep and ponies.
Water rescue team coordinator and RSPCA inspector Jason finch said: “The outpouring of support that we’ve had from the public has been amazing and our appeal has raised more than £20,000.
“This will go towards the ongoing costs of training and equipping the team, as well as ensuring we can continue responding to emergencies and helping animals stranded in water. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has dipped into their pockets to make a donation.
“The last few weeks have been unprecedented and have seen us rescuing horses, taking food to stranded sheep and moving pets stranded by the floodwater. We couldn’t do the vital work that we do without the public’s support so thank you from all of us and all of the animals who have been helped.”
Inspectors Dan Bradshaw and Deborah Scotcher were called to fields running beside the River Trent in Coates, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday (22 February).
Dan said: “Reports were of 100 sheep stranded on a thin piece of land between the river and a large flooded field. Tragically, five sheep had reportedly already died so we headed down to check on the rest of the flock.
“We opened a gate to an adjoining field with extra grazing and more higher ground and we took extra feed and hay out to them.
“By Monday (24 February), the water had gone down and the farmer was able to retrieve his flock and move them to another field.”
To support the RSPCA’s emergency flood appeal please visit: www.rspca.org.uk/floodappeal.
