In a disheartening incident that highlights the plight of abandoned animals, a 6-month-old cat was found cruelly dumped inside a tied-up shopping bag along a country lane in Folkestone. The young feline, now affectionately named Frank, was discovered in distressing circumstances, infested with fleas and showing signs of unevenly trimmed fur.
This heart-wrenching discovery was made by a concerned member of the public around 3 pm on Friday, September 8th, along Crete Road West. Swiftly recognizing the dire situation, the individual contacted the local animal welfare charity for immediate assistance.
Currently, Frank is under the care of the RSPCA’s Canterbury branch, where he is receiving the necessary support and attention to recuperate from his traumatic ordeal.
Inspector Kirsten Ormerod is leading the investigation into this incident. She expressed gratitude for the person who discovered the distressed cat, acknowledging that it seemed Frank might have endured being confined within the bag for an extended period, particularly concerning given the high temperatures. The oddity of Frank’s fur being randomly cut in places has further deepened the mystery surrounding his abandonment.
Ormerod took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of responsible pet ownership, stating, “We say it time and time again but dumping your pets is never the answer. It’s an incredibly cruel way to get rid of unwanted pets, and anything could have happened to this poor young cat.”
She further illuminated the challenges facing pet owners, noting, “Money worries and the cost of living crisis are pushing even the most loving pet owners to extreme actions. We are really seeing the impact of the cost of living crisis on the frontline, and our centers are struggling to cope with demand. More and more animals are being abandoned, and rehoming is slowing as people battle financial pressures.”
The statistics provided by the RSPCA underscore the growing issue of pet abandonment. In July of this year, the organization received reports of 2,031 abandonment incidents. Comparatively, the first seven months of 2023 have seen a substantial increase in reported abandonment cases, reaching 11,782 incidents reported to the RSPCA’s emergency line. This alarming rise, surpassing the figures from the same period in 2022 by more than 11%, highlights the urgent need for addressing the challenges faced by pet owners and ensuring the welfare of animals in need.
