Litter harms 5,000 animals every year with incidents including injuries and poisoning caused by discarded rubbish, RSPCA warns
- The Daily Mail is once again supporting the Great British Spring Clean
- More than 5,000 animals are being harmed by litter every year, say the RSPCA
- Wildlife including birds, deer and sealife are becoming trapped in litter
- To join the war on rubbish, simply go online to www.gbspringclean.org
More than 5,000 animals are being harmed by litter every year, the RSPCA has said.
The worrying statistic demonstrates why the Daily Mail is once again supporting the Great British Spring Clean, the litter campaign by Keep Britain Tidy.
So far, more than 149,000 people have signed up to join the campaign, which runs from March 20 until April 13.
There is still time to get involved or even organise your own litter pick. The RSPCA and British Veterinary Association (BVA) are urging animal lovers to take part.
The worrying statistic demonstrates why the Daily Mail is once again supporting the Great British Spring Clean, the litter campaign by Keep Britain Tidy
The RSPCA calculates it receives 5,000 calls a year regarding litter – around 14 a day. Wildlife are the main victims, including birds, deer and sealife, but cats and dogs can also get trapped in rubbish.
BVA president Daniella Dos Santos said: ‘Four in ten vets have reported seeing animals in practice every week that require treatment for terrible, and sometimes fatal, injuries and poisoning caused by discarded rubbish.
‘Cases range from external injuries, such as cuts and damaged limbs from broken glass and metal cans, to obstruction or internal injury and poisoning due to the ingestion of cooked bones, plastic wrappers and fireworks debris.
‘Our message to everyone is to not just sling it, but bin it, for the sake of our pets, farm animals and wildlife.’
Pictured: Parishioners at St Martin’s Church, in the Canterbury diocese, at last year’s Great British Spring Clean
RSPCA scientific officer Evie Button said yesterday: ‘Everyday objects that may seem perfectly safe can become hazardous to animals if they have been carelessly discarded.
‘Plastic is a major problem. We see animals that have been suffocated, strangled or choked by items like plastic bags, balloons and elastic bands.
And we are called out to numerous incidents where looped rubbish such as can-holders have caused deep wounds or prevented feeding, leading to starvation.
‘Animals looking for food can get trapped in tin cans and glass jars, or injured by sharp edges. And we receive thousands of reports of wild birds being injured or killed by fishing litter.’
To join the war on rubbish, simply go online to www.gbspringclean.org