Blue Monday (today – January 15) is reportedly the most depressing day of the year – but in a bid to banish the blues, the RSPCA is revealing some of the most uplifting stories of animal rescue.
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.
“For 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. We’re asking animal lovers to join the winter rescue by donating to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them.”
Here, the RSPCA shares some of its most heartwarming tales from 2023 to distract you from the gloom of Blue Monday…
Here is the RSPCA round-up of some of the top rescues from 2023:
Missing cat rescued from 30-metre mine shaft in Cornwall
RSPCA animal rescue officer Stephen Findlow attended a large mine shaft in Callington, Cornwall, where it was discovered that a cat called Mowgli had fallen 30 metres down to the bottom.
Stephen said: “The owner had been missing the cat for four days and was constantly brought to the location by her dog, as it sniffed the cat out! This is when the owner heard the calls from Mowgli and alerted us.”
After a tricky rescue, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service made it to the bottom of the mine to help Mowgli back to the surface.
After a quick visit at the local vets who examined Mowgli, he was given the all clear from injuries despite losing 2kg (4.4lb). He was reunited with his sibling and was very happy to see his owner.
Fence fix fox cub is rescued by RSPCA in London
The curious young cub had got his head jammed and couldn’t escape before being rescued by the RSPCA in Teddington in May. He was released back into the wild unharmed.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Jade Guthrie said: “This little chap’s head was completely stuck between the fence post and the loose fence panel. I suspect he had been trying to jump through the gap, but missed, slipped down, and got trapped around the neck as the gap narrowed nearer to the ground. I could see he was not going anywhere without some help.
“We weren’t sure how long he had been there, so I was keen to get him out as soon as possible. Luckily, I was able to pull back the panel and gently ease him out. He was clearly very relieved as he dashed away into the bushes to be reunited with his family.”
Oh nuts! Stuck squirrel rescued from bus shelter
The RSPCA and firefighters rescued a trapped squirrel from inside the panel of a bus shelter in Plymouth in October.
The charity was called to Paradise Road where a grey squirrel’s tail could be seen poking out of the bottom of the metal panel of the bus shelter.
RSPCA inspector Ellie Burt attended the bus stop near Stoke Damerel Church to try and free the poor stuck squirrel.
She said: “All I could see was his tail hanging out of the bottom of the bus shelter. The poor squirrel had got himself well and truly stuck inside the metal panel and was really lucky that someone spotted him and phoned us.
“I tried to carefully release him but the gap was too narrow to get him back out so I contacted the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services for help. I was very grateful that they could arrive and open the side panel of the bus shelter which was enough to dislodge the squirrel and bring him to safety – it’s a great reminder what we can achieve together for animal welfare.
“I checked him over but he thankfully didn’t have any injuries and he scurried straight off and into the trees.”
The grey squirrel – which is considered an invasive alien species – cannot legally be released back into the wild if taken into care for rehabilitation or treatment. They can only be legally released in situ – as was the case here.
Fox cub rescued by RSPCA after having discarded litter round neck for 3 WEEKS
This remarkable photograph of a fox cub highlights what a hazard litter can pose to wildlife. The RSPCA hopes that it has acted as a reminder that rubbish is harmful to wildlife.
The animal charity was contacted by members of the public who reported that the cub had been struggling for three weeks in June.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Cara Gibbon said: “It is so sad and heartbreaking to know that this poor fox wouldn’t have been in this situation if someone had disposed of their litter correctly in the first place.
“Thankfully we were able to safely catch him and remove the litter and we transferred him to a wildlife centre where he was checked over. He was emaciated and dehydrated, likely because he hasn’t been able to eat or drink properly for three weeks – but thankfully recovered.”
Swan song
A world-famous recording studio where the likes of Oasis, Muse, The Stone Rose, Robert Plant and Jessie J have recorded music was the location of a swan rescue in July.
RSPCA inspector Paul Kempson was called to The Sawmills in Golant to rescue an injured swan with a wound to his wing. Set in a picturesque Cornish creek, it is one of Cornwall’s most iconic properties where some very famous bands have recorded chart-topping albums.
There is no road access to the property, it is only accessible by boat, so Paul made a ten minute journey up river to rescue the swan and rushed him to a vet.
Adder rescued from 8ft drop outside Surrey manor house
An adder was safely rescued and released back into the wild by the RSPCA after dropping more than 8ft (2.4m) into a lightwell in Guildford.
The snake was discovered by a basement window at a manor house on Cobbett Hill Road in Normandy, Guildford in September.
Animal rescue officer Louis Horton: said: “This rescue was quite exciting for me as I’ve handled loads of exotics over the years, and rescued plenty of our native grass snakes, but never had the fortune to rescue an adder. I’ve always wanted to see one and he didn’t disappoint.
“I used my snake handling kit to rescue him safely. Adder’s are venomous so the callers were right to call us out.
“I assessed the adder first to make sure he didn’t require treatment at a wildlife hospital, thankfully he had no injuries and looked healthy.
“Overall the snake was surprisingly well behaved, I think it helped that I’m experienced and didn’t upset him too much!
“I managed to successfully release him into a nearby wooded area, he slithered away with no issues!”
Adders (Vipera berus) are native to the UK and prefer open habitats such as heathland, moorland and open woodland and hunting small mammals and lizards. They are rarely found in gardens.
Not moving anywhere: poor fox got head stuck in car wheel
A fox was wheely lucky to be spotted after getting his head trapped in a car wheel in south west London.
The poor fox was rescued after a member of the public spotted him struggling in October outside a storage yard in New Malden.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Sam Matthews managed to free the fox. She said: “The poor fox had almost given up and was resigned to his fate. The tyre had only been put there the night before, but he was quite exhausted.
“I think the young fox was just being inquisitive – he was possibly looking for some food hiding under there. But who knows why he went looking in there!
“His head was right in the middle of the wheel. I managed to get the fox and the wheel into my van. At no point did the fox put up a struggle. When I got to Wildlife Aid, rescue centre staff were ready and waiting. They managed to manipulate his ear out of the hole. He didn’t have any injuries – just a swollen face.
“This was a brand new tyre that had only been put there the night before. It’s always worth thinking about storing equipment out of reach of wildlife.”
The fox was released back into the wild near where he was found three days later.
RSPCA water rescue team called to help horses in flooded field near M1
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.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service contacted the RSPCA for their help to try and rescue the horses who were stuck in the flooded field after the River Erewash burst its banks.
The team of rescuers were able to access the field from a nearby railway track which had been closed due to floods.
But once in the field they were faced with five foot (1.5m) high flood water which was fast flowing. They were also unable to see dangers lurking beneath and the conditions were too dangerous to launch a boat. A rope rescue was attempted with animal rescue officer Steve Wickham and chief inspector Mark Gent approaching the horses. But as they got closer the animals became distressed and it was feared they would move into faster flowing and more dangerous waters.
Steve said: “The force of the water was immense and we were really struggling against the current but we managed to get into the field with ropes attached to us for our own safety. But the horses were frightened when we approached and we were really concerned that they could move into more dangerous flood waters or even into the river.
“We consulted with the Met Office and were told that the floodwaters were due to subside so – along with the fire service – we took a decision to leave the horses in situ but to closely monitor them, in case they needed further assistance. I am delighted to say the waters did go down as forecast and the horses were later led to safety and enjoyed a good feed – a happy ending.”
Steve added that the incident highlighted the importance of animal owners following important advice to keep animals and livestock safe – and if a weather warning is issued move animals to higher ground.
RSPCA comes to the aid of stricken sheep
An RSPCA rescuer demonstrated some neat carpentry skills as she rescued a sheep stuck in a fence in January.
The ewe was trapped by its head in the wooden livestock fence on remote grazing land in County Durham. Had the animal not been spotted by a passing lorry driver it was likely she would have starved to death.
The driver contacted the RSPCA and animal rescue officer Ruth Thomas-Coxon embarked on a mission to search for the stricken sheep.
When it proved impossible to prise the ewe’s head clear of the fence safely, Ruth, assisted by her colleague, inspector Heidi Cleaver, resorted to removing a whole fence panel to free her.
“The sheep’s head was stuck so tight as it was such a small gap. I realised we’d have to improvise and the fence panel would have to be taken out,” said the animal rescue officer.
“I went to get a hammer, a saw and some other tools to help with the job. I managed to bash the panel off, and Heidi and I were able to free the ewe. We then reattached the fencing we’d removed.”
Fortunately, apart from some superficial marks on her neck and the loss of some wool, the sheep was in good health after her ordeal and the officers were able to release her back into the field.
Fox in a fix! RSPCA frees early morning visitor wedged into a metal gate
A fox caught up in a metal gate at a house in South London was freed by the RSPCA in November.
The adult fox was discovered by a resident at a property in Sutton trapped in between the bars of a side garden gate.
After his head and front end became wedged, in a desperate effort to break free the mammal only succeeded in entrapping his rear leg in the ornamental curl of the gate.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Louis Horton was able to cut the fox free, using a towel to protect the animal.
Fortunately, the fox was uninjured and ran off back into the wild through the back garden of the property.
Louis said: “This poor fox was absolutely wedged in by both his front and back end. His body ended up being bent in a U shape between the metal bars and while he was uninjured there was some blood on the floor where he had been scratching with his claws but otherwise he was uninjured.”.
Two-metre long boa constrictor found in Plymouth car park
A boa constrictor was helped to safety by an RSPCA volunteer after being found in a car park in Plymouth in September. The two-metre long snake was collected by animal rescue volunteer Dawn Lapthorn and taken to a specialist reptile centre after being found in a car park.
RSPCA volunteer coordinator, chief inspector John Atkinson, said: “We’re so grateful to all our volunteers for everything they do to help animals. Dawn is a shining light of animal welfare and has helped rescue all sorts of animals. She has great experience with snakes so knew just what to do after getting the call about the boa constrictor.
“We’re always keen to welcome more volunteers to help our charity help as many animals as possible, but don’t worry, you don’t have to know how to handle snakes!
“From dog walking to van driving, from data entry to campaigning on animal welfare issues – the RSPCA offers a tremendous variety of roles for aspiring volunteers to get stuck into.”
A lock-y escape! Swan rescued after getting trapped in canal gate
A swan was rescued in November after getting trapped in a lock in Leicester. The distressed bird was spotted by a member of the public, who contacted the animal welfare charity for help in November.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Jack Curran went to help the bird who’d become trapped at the Freemens Meadow Lock, on the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line in Watkin Road.
Unfortunately, the swan was trapped between the lock gate and a stone wall and would have been crushed if the gates had been opened – and the bird was so water-logged that he couldn’t fly or move easily.
Jack said: “The swan was in quite a predicament and we needed to rescue them before the gates were opened. The fact that he was water-logged meant he couldn’t move around well, let alone fly away.”
The safest way to rescue the bird was with support from the fire service, who arrived after Jack contacted them.
The fire and rescue crew were able to get near the swan in an inflatable raft and bring him to safety. After being given a quick check-over, Jack took the swan to a wildlife centre for rehabilitation.
Trapped deer lifted to freedom
Animal heroes helped a trapped deer to safety after she found herself stuck down a deep hole in Hampshire.
The complex rescue – which saw a team of the charity’s rope and water rescue officers working as one to help the distressed deer – ended in joy as the deer ran back into the wild where she belongs.
RSPCA rescuers were called in to lend their specialist skills after the distressed deer was discovered in a deep hole in the grounds of a property in Romsey, in August.
RSPCA inspector Miranda Albinson, one of the team who helped the deer to safety, said: “It was great to be able to see her get up and safely run free. It’s these special moments that makes the rescue work we do to help animals so rewarding.
“It was a confined space beside a large pond so we knew we had to act carefully and quickly because deer can become easily stressed and this has a huge impact on their health and wellbeing. She was darted with a tranquilliser before being carefully lifted out and placed in a safe area to give her the time she needed to recover.”
Heartwarming moment RSPCA officer releases badger she rescued
A lucky badger leapt back to his natural habitat in July thanks to an RSPCA officer who rescued him from a four foot hole in the ground.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Cara Gibbon was called to a field in Solihull after the charity received reports that a badger was stuck at the bottom of an uncovered four feet deep manhole in the ground.
The badger had fallen down into the hole which contained plastic piping that he could hide inside. The RSPCA advised the caller to place a piece of wood in the hole as a ramp and monitor the badger in the morning to see if he could free himself, but it became clear he had no way of escape.
Cara said: “This beautiful badger was in a real fix and there was no way he could have got himself out without my help. If a wild animal isn’t in immediate danger, it can be best to monitor them first to see if they can free themselves, but in this case, intervention was the only way to save him.
“After blocking the pipe that the badger was hiding in, I was able to lie on the ground and reach down wearing my gloves, and lift him up safely out of the hole. I popped him into a secure carrier to check him for injuries, and because I was a little concerned that he was underweight, I took him to a local wildlife specialist for a second opinion.
“Thankfully, after a few days of being monitored and fed, we were satisfied he could be safely released back to the wild. I transported him back to where he was found and made sure the manhole was covered over. Watching him scuttle off back to his home was such a joy for me – it’s moments like this that really make my job worthwhile.”
Panicked buck caught in terrible tangle runs free after ordeal
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.
Kristy said: “The deer seemed to have got himself caught upside down in the tree and was thrashing around so much trying to free himself. In these situations, our main priority is to calm the animal down so we can try to rescue them. It was lovely to see him dashing back into the trees where he belongs!
“Sadly, when wild animals get themselves stuck they sometimes panic which can make the situation worse. It’s really important that if you see a wild animal in this situation to get in touch with us so we can try and help as quickly as possible.”
Unbeaverlievable!
Two beavers arrived at a specialist RSPCA wildlife centre after being saved from drowning in an overflow drain. The beavers were brought into RSPCA West Hatch centre by Secret World Rescue who had responded to a phone call about an animal trapped in Frome, Somerset. The caller thought it might have been an otter.
Upon arrival, the rescue team discovered not one but two beavers trapped in around a metre’s worth of dirty water and at risk of drowning.
The very unusual guests arrived at RSPCA West Hatch wildlife centre near Taunton in October where they were given supportive care as they regained strength. After careful transportation from the wildlife centre, the beavers were released back into the wild.
Dr David Couper, who has been a specialist wildlife vet at RSPCA West Hatch for around 20 years, added: “Around 18,000 animals are admitted at our four wildlife centres annually, rescued by members of the public, the RSPCA inspectorate and other animal welfare charities. We deal with around 200 different species, from pygmy shrews, to grey seals. While all of these animals are interesting in their own right, there is an added buzz to dealing with a rare species. We’ll certainly never forget welcoming the beavers. It was an honour to be able to lend a helping hand at a time of need.”
Seal pup found on farm 18 miles inland is rescued and returned to the sea
A seal pup had to be rescued from a farmer’s field in Lancashire 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.
She said: “The seal had come from the river – which is 18 miles (29km) inland from the coast – but this is not unusual and seals are spotted in our waterways and will happily find their own way back to the sea.
“I spoke to specialists at our centre who were concerned that about putting him back in the river due to the amount of dog walkers in the area as their pets could spook the seal causing him to travel further inland
“So we took the seal, who looked really healthy, to the RNLI base in Fleetwood and we released him into the sea there. The seal was a bit reluctant to go in the water at first so had to gently encourage him.
“Then off he went into the sea – it was so heart-warming to see. I am not sure why he came so far inland but seals have been spotted in the river here before. It seems he then got out for a wander and must have lost his way so it was a good job his predicament was spotted.”
Sheep saved after getting trapped
RSPCA rescuers were called to free a sheep who had fallen down a manhole in a field in Surfleet in February.
RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs said: “It was a huge bit of luck for this sheep that a walker had been curious about the manhole and looked inside and saw the sheep looking back up at them!
“They called us and I attended – I looked in the hole and saw the sheep about five feet down – however it was not possible to remove the broken cover on my own so I requested the help of the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service. The firefighters were brilliant and were able to remove the manhole cover using their release equipment – before scooping the sheep out. I can’t thank them enough for all their help.
“Fortunately, when I checked her over she wasn’t injured but she certainly looked a bit sheepish when she returned back to the flock.”
Deer trapped between fencing posts rescued by RSPCA
A deer was rescued by the RSPCA after getting herself wedged between two fencing posts at Standen House and Gardens in West Sussex in November.
The unlucky deer managed to get herself trapped in the small gap, but was thankfully spotted by National Trust staff when they came on shift in the morning. They called the animal welfare charity.
RSPCA animal rescue officers Sam Matthews and Louis Horton found the poor animal stuck between two posts.
With the help of a car jack they managed to widen the gap between the posts and lifted her up to the widest part and were able to release her.
Sam said: “It looked like she tried to leap over the fence but didn’t quite make it. She slid down between the posts and got caught between her hips and ribs.
“She didn’t put up much of a fight when we arrived. We popped a towel over her head to keep her calm. The staff were very good at calming her and kept visitors away until we managed to free her. Thankfully we managed to release her by using the car jack to widen the gap, before lifting her out. She seemed absolutely fine and bounded off back into the wild.
“We often hear of deer getting tangled in the netting itself, but not trapped between the fencing posts! Staff are going to place wood in the gap to prevent it happening again. Deer can get stuck in quite small spaces so it’s always worth checking fencing to make sure it’s safe for wildlife.”
Garden netting-entangled fox freed by the RSPCA
A fox had to be rescued after being spotted tightly entwined in plant-support netting in a garden in Hertfordshire.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Jane Folly, who helped him free, said: “This poor chap had got himself completely entwined in some garden netting. His struggles to free himself had only tightened the netting around him. I needed to free him as soon as possible as he had been trapped there all night.
“After donning a pair of strong gloves to protect me from potential bites, I used my grasper to gently hold him in position. It was then safe for me – and him – to start cutting the netting away. It wasn’t long before I was able to loosen, then remove the netting. I checked him over and as he was thankfully uninjured, I released him and he quickly dashed off. This entanglement incident thankfully had a happy ending, but it could have been very different.”
Iguana rescued after he made great ‘igscape’ up a tree
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!
