For 200 years, the RSPCA has been there for animals in need of a helping hand. Every day the country’s oldest animal welfare charity rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes hundreds of animals with very special backgrounds and stories of triumph over adversity - and in the last ten years, has found new homes for 111 pets every single day.
Dermot Murphy, RSPCA inspectorate commissioner from the animal charity’s frontline rescuers, said: “We know that many believe Blue Monday to be one of the days people find most difficult. But we hope showcase how animal lovers have helped us help so many animals over the last year and beyond will put a smile on people's faces this Blue Monday."
From an Iguana named Einstein getting stuck up a tree to Mowgli the cat falling 30 feet down a mine shaft, take a look at some of the heartwarming tales from 2023 to distract you from the gloom of Blue Monday.
The RSPCA are calling on members of the public to join the winter rescue by donating to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them.
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9. Horses stranded in flooded field
The RSPCA water rescue team was called into action in Nottinghamshire In October after reports that two horses were at risk of drowning in a flooded field. The owner of the horses reported that they were unable to reach the animals due to rising flood waters caused by the severe rain during Storm Babet. Photo: RSPCA
10. Spot the Iguana
An iguana named Einstein had to be rescued from a tree after he made his great ‘igscape’ through the cat flap at his home. Einstein made his escape from his home in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, in May after he followed the family’s feline through the cat flap! He had been on the run for over 24 hours when he was spotted 12 metres (39ft) up a tree in a nearby neighbour’s garden. The RSPCA was called and requested the assistance of the fire service and a crew from Louth and Horncastle Fire and Rescue attended. But Einstein turned out to be not so clever as he had got himself on a flimsy branch which was making it difficult to reach him by a ladder - so reinforcements were called for and Todd Wilson, a tree surgeon and also an on call firefighter at Horncastle but was off duty at the time came to help with the rescue. He was able to get up the tree and reached the branch to pull Einstein over to him where he placed him in a box and made it secure before bringing him down - to the applause of the watching audience! Photo: RPSCA
11. Seal pup found in farm
A seal pup had to be rescued from a farmer’s field in Lancashire 18 miles inland and returned to the sea after it went for a wander from a nearby river in January. The grey seal was spotted about a kilometre (0.6 miles) away from the River Ribble near the Capitol Centre in Walton-le-Dale, Preston. It seems the seal had wandered across three farmers fields before he was spotted by a member of the public who alerted the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and the RSPCA as well as the practice manager from the nearby Vets4Pets. RSPCA animal rescue officer Kelly Nix, was sent to the scene and assisted the BDMLR in safely containing the seal in a cage and then sought advice from the charity’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire. Photo: RSPCA
12. Panicked buck caught in terrible tangle
The RSPCA rushed to the aid of a deer who had got himself tangled in a tree. The animal welfare charity was contacted by a concerned member of the public who found the animal struggling after getting his antlers caught in some fencing, which had then become tangled round a tree. RSPCA inspector Kristy Ludlam attended the incident, in Quarry Road, Morley, Derbyshire in November. Photo: RSPCA