For 365 days a year, RSPCA rescuers are helping, healing, and homing animals in urgent need, here the charity shares some of its most heartwarming tales from 2025.
It comes as the charity reveals more than 634,000 users visited the RSPCA website in 2025 to report a concern, with 7,279 visits in the Christmas period from December 24 to 29. With charity rescuers braced for a further surge in reports over the Winter months, the RSPCA has launched an urgent appeal – The Big Give Back to Animals – in the hope of raising vital funds for its frontline officers.
RSPCA superintendent Simon Osborne said: “Every single day throughout the year, our teams rescue, rehabilitate and rehome hundreds of animals with very special backgrounds and stories of triumph over adversity. Here we highlight just a few from 2025 to showcase how animal lovers have helped us help so many animals survive in so many situations.
“For more than 200 years, the RSPCA has been working tirelessly to bring animals to safety and give them the expert treatment and compassion they deserve – but we can’t do that without the support of fellow animal lovers. If you care about animals, it’s time to turn that care into action. Help rescue, heal and protect suffering animals by joining The Big Give Back to Animals to help them live the lives they deserve.”
Sewerage cries kitten
A tiny terrified kitten was rescued thanks to her booming cries for help being heard after she’d become trapped in a sewage system in Birmingham. RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Cara Gibbon responded to the call made to the charity alongside fellow rescuer, RSPCA Inspector Boris Lasserre, who both donned dry suits for the special mission in the Handsworth area in October.
Cara said: “This tiny little kitten was in a real fix and there was no way she could have got herself out without help. She was trapped down a sewage flow system and we think she must have fallen from quite a height above as there was no other way she could have got herself in there. We know she had been in there for at least three days and with no mum around she must have been terrified. We attended following a call for assistance from the fire service who were unable to rescue her as she kept going into the tunnel. We tried for hours until it was too dark before returning the next morning. She appeared to remember us! She was running towards us and calling out for help but was too scared to come to us. Thankfully, she went into the trap we’d set and we managed to get her to safety. It was a fantastic rescue as she almost certainly would have perished if she wasn’t so loud in the tunnel which alerted a passerby to her plight!” The kitten, named Olivia Twist by rescuers, was taken to RSPCA Birmingham Animal Hospital for a health check before being transferred to the team at the RSPCA Worcester Branch animal centre where she was rehomed.
Entangled peregrine falcon
A trapped peregrine falcon who had become tangled in netting was helped to safety by an RSPCA rescuer in Birmingham before being released back into the wild in April. RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Lydia Andrews was able to carefully cut the peregrine falcon free before watching him fly off. Lydia said: “We’re so grateful to the person who contacted us to help. Thankfully I was able to free the bird but sadly many are not so lucky to survive. We receive around 2,000 reports every year about wild birds trapped in or behind netting, with a large number of these involving bird-deterrent netting. While the use of netting to prevent birds nesting is legal, it’s critically important that it is professionally installed and regularly maintained to ensure that birds cannot become trapped. Problems can arise when netting is installed without a regular maintenance contract in place, is put up incorrectly, or becomes damaged or eroded in the weather, leaving gaps where birds can enter and become trapped.”
Stolen dog reunited with family after eight years
A beloved family dog, a 13-year-old Labrador named Daisy, was reunited with her owners, Rita and Philip Potter, in Norfolk, after being stolen from their garden in 2017. The emotional reunion ended eight years of searching for the couple. Daisy, who went missing when she was five, was found by RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters during routine investigations in Weston-Super-Mare. The dog was found neglected with untreated mammary masses, and her owner agreed to sign her over to the RSPCA. A microchip scan revealed Daisy was stolen and allowed the RSPCA to contact her original delighted owners. Daisy had been used for backyard breeding and was found to be deaf with slight hip dysplasia. She was cared for at the RSPCA North Somerset Branch before making the four-hour journey home. Her family, who had never given up hope, were delighted to have her back.
A long way off course
A puffin named Oona was released back into the wild after rehabilitation at the specialist RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Somerset. Oona was one of only six puffins ever treated by the team in the last decade, having been found a staggering 110 miles inland in a garden in Herefordshire in June. She was taken to Vets for Pets in Hereford for triage, where she was found to be very underweight at only 218g – half the weight of a healthy adult. Following advice from resident RSPCA wildlife vet David Couper, she was stabilised and transferred for rehabilitation. Oona received care, including a wash to remove residual oil contaminating her waterproofing, and after recovering and eating plenty of fish, she was transported to Pembrokeshire and successfully released back into the sea.
Miraculous recovery for emaciated ‘lifeless’ dog
Lurcher Peanut was found collapsed, emaciated, and dumped in a ditch in a country lane in Biggleswade on New Year’s Day 2025. She was taken to the RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre in Cambridgeshire weighing just 13kg – the thinnest dog her rescuers had ever seen. She was in such a bad way – every bone on her body was visible and she had multiple pressure sores on her legs and even her tail – probably caused by laying on hard surfaces for a long period of time, rather than a comfortable bed. Staff were shocked at her condition – she was almost lifeless, unable to even lift her head. But there was something in her eyes which made them realise this girl still had some fight left in her.
Her recovery was painstaking, involving small, regular meals, warm jackets, and daily care to heal her physical wounds and combat infection. Psychologically, she was very nervous and had lost trust in people. Through the dedicated work of the team, Peanut slowly gained confidence, marking milestones like her first tail wag, walks, and ‘zoomies.’ Two months after being rescued, she weighed 18kg and was ready for adoption. After receiving more than 50 applications, a perfect home was found and Peanut has settled in well, enjoying her first Christmas with her loving new family.
Ice escape for cygnet
A cygnet was rescued by the RSPCA after getting trapped in ice in Lancashire. The bird was spotted by a dog walker in the frozen water on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, near Riley Green, in January and is thought to have been stuck for at least two days. Inspector Carl Larsson was able to break the ice with his reach and rescue pole from the safety of the bank and herded the juvenile swan to a safe area. He said: “We get these kinds of calls quite often as the canals around here readily freeze over because of the slow moving water. It’s not always an emergency when water birds get stuck because if they’re healthy they should have enough fat reserves to survive. However on this occasion I decided it was best to move the cygnet because he was only a youngster and was completely unable to move which would have made him easy prey for predators.”
Salt and vinegar snake
A snake on the loose in a fish and chip shop in Greenwich, London, was rescued by the RSPCA and returned to his owner in July. RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Adam Tasker was called to the take away to rescue a snake initially reported as a ‘python’ but identified as a juvenile corn snake—a non-venomous pet species. Suspecting it was an escaped pet, Adam put up a lost and found poster, leading to the owner contacting him the next day. The snake was safely reunited with its owner, who was ‘over the moon’ to have him back, and given advice on securing its vivarium.
An usual big guest
An overweight raccoon – weighing three times his ideal weight at 11.2 kilos – was rescued in Gwennap, Cornwall, after being spotted straying. RSPCA officer Abi Kemp, assisted by kind members of the public and a vet, safely captured the raccoon who was taken to RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre where he received the care he needed before heading off to a permanent home that could meet his needs and the strict legal restrictions on keeping them as pets.
Helping a fox out!
The RSPCA came to the rescue of a fox who got in a bit of a tight spot – after getting three paws stuck through the wooden slats of a garden chair. Inspector Clive Hopwood was called to Mottingham, in south-east London, in January by a concerned resident who spotted the stricken animal in their garden. Clive said: “The poor fox had managed to get both front paws and one back paw wedged between the wooden slats in the back of a garden chair. I suspect she’d gone to jump onto the back of the chair and slipped between the slats. It must have been very painful and uncomfortable for her to be left hanging there like that. I was able to carefully slide her legs back up and out of the gaps and release her from the trap.” She was taken in by The Fox Project and, thankfully, wasn’t injured.
Stuck in the mud
It was all hands on deck to help a horse who had collapsed and was stuck in a muddy field in Edenbridge, Kent. RSPCA rescuers Cora Peeters and Chloe Wilson were called to the rural spot in January following reports of 12-year-old cob, Albert, unable to stand after possibly getting his legs stuck in the straps on his rug. A vet and Kent Fire & Rescue Service came to help as it was feared Albert was struggling with hypothermia. They all worked together to manoeuvre Albert onto a board, pull him away from the deep mud and help him sit up and give him some hay. Chloe said: “He was still too weak to get on his feet, so the firefighters used their specialist equipment to lift him to standing. It was fantastic they were able to help us rescue Albert, as we couldn’t have done it without their special expertise and equipment. It’s a wonderful example of how we can all work together to help animals when they really need us.” They rubbed Albert with towels to warm him and, when he was stronger, loaded him onto a trailer to move him to a veterinary hospital nearby.
Owl did you get there?
A tawny owl needed rescuing after getting tangled on a branch by its wing. The bird was found hanging 20ft above fast-flowing water in Bedwas, Caerphilly, Wales in January. RSPCA Inspector Sophie Daniels and South Wales Fire & Rescue Service went to help. Sophie said: “The owl may have been there for some time, and was clearly distressed. Although we couldn’t confirm it – we all thought that the bird of prey had become entangled due to a fishing line on the branches.” The fire crew and Sophie combined both reach poles with a net to reach the bird and pull him free – but then he jumped out of the net and fell in the river. Thankfully he managed to scramble onto the bank but couldn’t fly so Sophie went to collect him and took him to a local vet. He was later released back into the wild. Sophie added: “This owl had a really lucky escape!”
Slurry owl
A member of the public discovered the owl after it flew into a slurry pit in October and then kindly called a local vet out to come and assess him. Uninjured, but very cold and exhausted, he was transferred to RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Taunton in Somerset where he was instantly warmed up and fed. The following day team members carefully washed his contaminated feathers. Once his feathers had dried, he was transferred to an outdoor aviary and eight days later successfully released back to the wild by RSPCA Inspector Dean Wilkins.
Seals say ‘sea you’
Three grey seals named Shakira, Iggy Pop and Elmer were released back to the wild in Devon in December after rehab at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre. The seals are just the first of many seals that will be returned to the sea by the team at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre from the ‘seal pup season’ – which typically runs from September to March. The charity’s wildlife rehabilitation team helps the seals build up the strength they need to be fit enough to be released after they’ve been rescued by frontline teams after being found injured or orphaned. The seals are initially brought to the centre’s intensive care pens before they are moved into a pool when they gain weight and begin self-feeding. Each seal pup rehabilitated at RSPCA West Hatch can remain in care at the centre for a number of months and during this time the centre will be spending on average £1,400 a week on fish and veterinary care during seal season.
Fishing wire gull
A gull was left dangling from a tree after getting tangled by his wing in a discarded fishing line in Greater Manchester. The bird was spotted in distress by a member of the public at Queensmere Dam in Swinton on 4 December and was rescued by RSPCA rescuerSteve Wickham, who entered the water on a small raft while wearing a dry suit. After cutting the line away and removing it, the bird was given time to recover before being released back into the wild. The Animal Rescue Officer said: “The poor bird was caught in the line by his feathers and was stuck but able to fly, so was going round in circles. Discarded line is a terrible hazard for wildlife, particularly as it can be almost invisible and can cut deeply into the flesh of water birds like swans, geese and ducks, affecting circulation and causing wounds to become infected. We even see birds that have swallowed barbed fishing hooks left suffering and unable to eat. These hazards can very quickly become a matter of life or death for animals.”
Hedgehog saved from strimmer injury
A hedgehog found herself needing urgent care at an RSPCA wildlife centre in summer after being injured by a strimmer in Somerset.
The hedgehog was found with an injury to her back and kindly helped to safety by a member of the public.
The hedgehog, who had lost many of her spines and was covered in ticks, was treated for her injuries at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre where the specialist vets and care team worked their magic to ensure she was fully rehabilitated ready for release back into the wild.
Badger freed
The badger was successfully released from the netting earlier this month after being found in the Meadowhead area of Sheffield.
RSPCA Inspector Jennie Ronksley said: “This poor badger was completely entangled and was very distressed.
“Once I was able to disentangle him, he very quickly ran off back into the wild where he belongs. He didn’t appear to have any injuries and was just very happy to be free again.”
Putting netting away after use to prevent wild animals getting entangled is just one of the many things people can do to help our native wildlife.
Jennie added: “I’d like to thank the member of the public who raised the alarm here. Luckily this badger was freed – however, unattended football netting can be lethal to animals. It is important to be mindful of this throughout the year, and not just in the summer months.
“We’re urging the public to help us spread the message – remember to put your sports netting away after use and never leave it unmonitored, particularly overnight.”
Glue trap snake
A grass snake was given a helping hand by RSPCA wildlife specialists after being rescued from a cruel glue trap. The native snake was found by a member of the public in Liskeard, Cornwall, before being rescued by RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Andrew Brenton and taken to RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre where the remains of the glue trap was removed before the snake was released back into the wild. RSPCA wildlife vet, David Couper, who helped the snake following the incident in July, said: “Glue traps are cruel and indiscriminate and that’s why it’s now illegal for the public to use them. When animals come into contact with the glue board they get stuck by their feet, or like with this snake, by their head and body. They are then unable to free themselves and other parts of their body then become stuck, further entrapping them. In trying to get free, they may rip out fur or feathers, break bones, and even gnaw through their own limbs to escape. After a few hours, animals have been reported as covered in their own faeces and urine. If trapped animals are left unattended, they’ll die slowly from dehydration, starvation or exhaustion which is why the RSPCA are against the sale of these traps.”
Gull netting release
A gull was lucky to escape without injury after getting caught up in a football net in Ramsgate, Kent. RSPCA Inspector Tina Nash went to help the gull in February. She said: “This poor bird had got badly tangled in the netting, with the rope tightly wound around both her wings leaving her grounded and unable to move. I was able to carefully cut her free and put her in a dark, quiet box for 20 minutes to recover and gain some energy before checking she could use both wings and legs. Thankfully – and somewhat miraculously – she wasn’t injured so I took her to Ramsgate Harbour and released her. It was lovely to watch her swopping off over the sea.”
Get meowt of here!
RSPCA and a team of rescuers battled for three days to save a trapped kitten in Wisbech in May who had managed to get stuck in a ventilation pipe leading to a redundant cellar under a William Hill shop for more than a week. Rescuers eventually had to get permission to dig up the shop’s floor to access a covered trap door to the cellar. After a brief escape into a wall cavity, William, as he was named by rescuers, was finally helped to safety before being found a loving new home.
Engine problems
A young fox who became trapped inside a hot van engine was rescued in November thanks to the RSPCA and local wildlife teams. The distressed female fox was discovered after an Amazon delivery driver spotted a warning light in his van while on shift in Derby – and when he parked up and popped the bonnet, he spotted her lodged inside the engine. Concerned for the fox’s welfare, he alerted a colleague who called the RSPCA, and Inspector Herchy Boal quickly attended the scene at the Amazon depot. Using a grasper, Herchy was able to carefully manoeuvre the fox into a safe position and remove her from the engine, before taking her to a local vet for a check-up. It turned out the fox had chewed through some wires in the engine, which was what caused the warning light to come on.
Thankfully, despite the frightening ordeal, the fox was rescued with only minor injuries – a wound on her tail and a minor burn on her back leg, as well as some pressure sores and bruising from where she was trapped. She was treated with antibiotics as well as medicine to treat her fleas and mange. Herchy collected the lucky fox and transferred her to Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital, where she underwent treatment before being released back into the wild.
