CREATE AN ANIMAL ‘RESCUE BOX’

New findings from the RSPCA’s 2025 Kindness Index, the charity’s annual survey into the UK’s attitude towards animals, show that 54% of people don’t feel confident about what to do if they find sick or injured wildlife.

So, the animal welfare charity is calling on people to be a Local Animal Hero with their new training video, where RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Emma Baker shows the public how to help small wild animals and pets in need and create their own rescue box.

A huge 61% of people say wildlife is the most important issue for the RSPCA to deal with – the highest number in four years – while nine in 10 people say that wildlife needs to be protected in our towns and cities, as well as in the countryside.

This comes amid growing concern by the charity that existing wildlife legislation is not fit for purpose meaning wildlife crime is not being addressed and as critics of the Government’s new Planning Bill say weakening environmental protections could be disastrous for wildlife.

Gemma Hope, the RSPCA’s Assistant Director for Policy, Advocacy and Evidence, explained that the Kindness Index results show a rise in concern about wildlife this year.

She said: “This year’s Kindness Index shows high levels of concern for the future of wildlife – more than three quarters of people who answered the Kindness Index survey are worried about the future of wildlife around the world, which is higher than last year. They say that wildlife is the most important thing the RSPCA should tackle.

“When the world is uncertain and volatile, people may feel protective over the world around them, including the animals who share their neighbourhood.

“This concern could be growing due to the publicity around the Government’s proposed changes to planning laws. There are fears that if it goes ahead unchanged, it could spell disaster for wildlife, and it is clearly a cause for concern – and 64% of those surveyed think the Government should be responsible for animal welfare.”

The RSPCA, alongside Humane World for Animals, is also calling for a new Wildlife Act because it claims the current laws are inconsistent and outdated, with some dating back to the early 19th century, leaving wild animals without the protection they need. A report from the charities shows that between 2017 and 2023, there were more than 10,000 wildlife crimes reported to police – but only 216 convictions.

Gemma added: “Wildlife legislation is a complex jigsaw puzzle of dozens of inconsistent and sometimes contradictory laws, with missing pieces allowing criminal gangs to exploit and torture wildlife. Just like the pets we share our homes with, wild animals deserve to be much better protected. We want to see a new Wildlife Act which brings laws together and brings them up to date so all wild animals are better protected, the public understand their responsibilities, and ensuring perpetrators of wildlife crime are held to account.”

But the public can also do their bit protecting wildlife, as the charity calls on them to become Local Animal Heroes this summer and learn what to do if they discover sick and injured wildlife.

While many animals need specialist support, there are lots of small wildlife and pets which people can safely help. Of these, hedgehogs were the wild animals most likely to need public help with 9,546 entering RSPCA centres in 2024, followed by wood pigeons (6,521), mallard ducks (3,806), feral pigeons (2,909) and blackbirds (1,782). The charity said that while they cared for more than 47,000 animals last year, often people don’t realise the fastest way to get a small animal help is to take them to a local vet.

RSPCA supporter ornithologist and environmentalist, Dr Mya-Rose Craig, has called on people to take the first step to learning how they can help wildlife in need in their neighbourhood.

She said: “The RSPCA Kindness Index shows that while many people want to do their bit, many would struggle to know what to do if they came across an animal in need. By learning to become a Local Animal Hero, anyone can find out what to do if they find a sick or injured animal who needs help. Learning how to safely handle small wildlife or pets and building a rescue box to keep in your car can make a big difference for animals.

“No matter where in the country you are, there are so many different animals that share our environment – and it’s up to us to help make sure that they are living their best lives this summer too. By doing a kind act this summer, we can all help to create a better world for every animal.”

Last year, more than 10,000 animals were admitted to the RSPCA’s four wildlife centres – with more than a quarter of those in June and July alone. Reasons included animals being orphaned, injured, attacked by another animal or collisions with vehicles.

Take a kind act for animals this summer and learn how to be a Local Animal Hero. Visit rspca.org.uk/rescuebox  to watch the video and sign up to get your Animal Hero badge.