Report A Concern | RSPCA - RSPCA
Help an animal in need
If you’re worried about an animal, you’re in the right place.
Rescuing animal victims of cruelty and neglect is a job that no other charity does - so our specially trained team will always prioritise it. But we care about all animals - and know you do too.
Tell us about the animal and we’ll guide you to the best and quickest way of getting them the help they need.
If you are in need of more advice, please call us on 0300 123 4999. Please be aware our rescue teams are busy helping animal victims of cruelty and neglect, therefore we may not be able to send an officer to help you.
">Safety advice
Watch our video to see how you can help them. If you’re worried or unsure, try to find a friend or neighbour to give you a hand.
For further advice, the PDSA has really good animal first aid guidance. When moving an animal, make sure you don't make any injuries worse. Stay calm, reassure them and make sure they are safe before moving them. You could use a blanket, towel or board to help support and carry the pet.
If you are in need of more advice, please call us on 0300 123 4999. Please be aware our rescue teams are busy helping animal victims of cruelty and neglect, therefore we may not be able to send an officer to help you.
">If you think the horse has been neglected or is a victim of cruelty, contact us on 0300 1234 999.
British Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">If you think the horse has been neglected or is a victim of cruelty, contact us on 0300 1234 999.
British Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">British Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">British Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">Safety advice
For your safety, do not try to handle ferrets or any of the animals listed here. Watch our video to see how you can help them. If you’re worried or unsure, try to find a friend or neighbour to give you a hand.
For advice on how to move an animal, the PDSA has really good animal first aid advice. When moving an animal, make sure you don't make any injuries worse. Stay calm, reassure them and make sure they are safe before moving them. You could use a blanket, towel or board to help support and carry the pet.
">Always wear gloves, eye protection and a mask when handling birds due to Avian Flu, and be sure to wash hands afterwards. If you’re worried or unsure, ask a friend or neighbour to give you a hand.
" data-accordions="[{"title":"Baby bird", "content":"It’s quite common to see a baby bird out of the nest as they are learning to fly and usually they don’t need rescuing. If you find a baby bird, keep your pets away and follow our detailed advice on what to do.
"}]">It’s normal for baby rabbits to be left alone for long periods of time, even when they’re very young. Their mother will usually come back around dusk to feed them.
A baby rabbit will need your help straight away if:
- they’re injured
- they’ve been caught by a dog or cat
- they are covered with flies’ eggs (that look like small grains of rice)
- their eyes are closed, or they’re not covered in fur - this will be a baby rabbit that’s been dug out of the warren, so check for any other babies nearby
- you can see their mother is dead nearby - she will have bald patches on her chest where the babies feed
Watch our video above on how to safely handle a baby rabbit or hare.
"}]" data-youtubeid="HK7d_ldd6IM?si=M2dFLJ7fuZuZa_3m">If the animal is seriously sick or injured, then the quickest way to get them help will be to contact a vet. Watch our video on how to handle and transport the frog. If you’re worried or unsure, try to find a friend or neighbour to give you a hand.
">Here are signs that a hedgehog is likely sick or injured:
There is obvious sign of injury (like an open wound, or burn or damaged spines)
- It doesn't seem interested in the food you've put out
- They are staggering, wobbly, walking around in circles or lethargic
- You can see a large number of flies or ticks on the hedgehog
- You can see any maggots or fly eggs on them
- The hedgehog does not roll up or try to roll up when you approach or touch it
You should also help hedgehogs if:
- The weather is cold - regular ground frost, snow, or temperatures are at or below freezing for several days
- It is small - the size of an apple or smaller
- It is in immediate danger, for example on a road
If you find a baby hedgehog on their own at night, it’s best to leave them alone as a parent is likely close by.
For an injured baby, in the daylight or night, the best thing you can do is take it to a vet.
Watch our video above on how to safely handle a hedgehog.
"}]">If you find a baby rat or mouse with fur and its eyes are open the best thing to do is leave it alone. Keep away and monitor the baby - the mother should come back to pick it up within a few hours.
A baby rodent will need your help straight away if:
- it has no fur or its eyes are closed, and it’s out of the nest
- you can see the dead parents nearby
- the parents haven’t returned to the nest after two hours of monitoring
To help a baby rat or mouse, watch our video on how to handle and transport it to a vet.
"}]">To help a squirrel safely, watch our video on how to handle and transport them. If you’re worried or unsure, try to find a friend or neighbour to give you a hand.
" data-accordions="[{"title":"Baby squirrel", "content":"If you find a baby squirrel, you should leave it where you found it, keep pets away and follow these tips:
- Check the area for any other siblings which may also need help.
- The baby should cry which will encourage the mother to help. You can also play squirrel baby distress noises (available online).
- If a baby squirrel or their nest has fallen to the ground, put them back in the tree for the mother to collect. The safest way to do this is to use a basket or pot you can put the nest in and hang or place in the tree.
- If there’s no nest, collect leaves and small twigs to keep in the basket with the squirrels. Securely place it in the tree to protect the baby squirrels from predators.
- Don’t give a baby squirrel food or water - this can do more harm than good.
British Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">If the frog or toad is trapped and it would be unsafe for you to help them or it would require specialist tools, please call us on 0300 123 4999.
British Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">If they are trapped and it would be unsafe for you to help or it would require specialist tools, please call us on 0300 1234 999.
British Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">If they are trapped and it would be unsafe for you to help or it would require specialist tools, please call us on 0300 1234 999.
British Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">Thank you for caring about this dog.
">If you are in need of more advice, please call us on 0300 123 4999. Please be aware our rescue teams are busy helping animal victims of cruelty and neglect, therefore we may not be able to send an officer to help you.
">If you're concerned about a tethered horse because it looks like they’re in poor condition please ring 0300 1234 999.
British Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">Call us
Please call our RSPCA cruelty and neglect line on 0300 1234 999
Lines are open 8am - 6pm
Call usBritish Sign Language support
If you require additional support we offer an emergency line with a BSL interpreter to help you report cruelty and neglect
">Injured wildlife needs you
More often than not, the quickest and best way to help a small bird or animal is to take it to your nearest vet. This will free up our rescuers to get to the animals at risk of cruelty and neglect who need us most.
Your questions
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Animal cruelty is where a person is deliberately causing an animal to suffer, for example by physically harming them. Neglect is where a person is causing an animal to suffer by not providing everything they need to be well. For example they’re not giving the animal the food, water or vet treatment they need. They might be keeping the animal in a small cage or leaving them alone for too long. People don’t always mean to neglect animals, they sometimes don’t understand what they need.
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Before you contact us to report cruelty or neglect, please make a note of the following:
- Your name, address and telephone number for our records. Don't worry, we'll treat your personal information in confidence and won’t share it with anybody unless we’re authorised to do so by law. For more information, please see our privacy policy
- The date, time and location/address of the incident. You can also use what3words to let us know the location. This app is free to download for both iOS and Android devices, and also works offline. You can also use it via the online map at what3words.com.
- A description of the animal's environment and bodily condition. This will help us to assess the situation and the animal's welfare.
- If known, the name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) involved.
- The names and addresses of any witnesses.
- The registration number and description of any vehicle involved.
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We value your call and want to do everything in our power to help animals. Due to the high number of calls – and our unique skills as a charity – we have to prioritise all calls about cruelty, neglect or injured animals. We then assess their severity and urgency.
Depending on this prioritisation, we may send an RSPCA inspector or animal rescue officer to the incident. We also work with specialist partner charities to attend some incidents.
Sometimes the best thing to help an animal quickly is for us to refer incidents to other specialist organisations or to help the public to help animals themselves.
We cannot accept calls from withheld phone numbers. If you need to contact us and your phone is set up to withhold your number, most phones can be made to temporarily show your number by dialling 1470, then our number 0300 1234 999. If you are calling from the emergency services, we maintain a different phone line for you to call us directly - please contact your control room for details. -
You can download the Relay UK app for help contacting us if you're deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired.
Download the app onto your smartphone, tablet, or computer from:
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As a veterinary surgeon, your first responsibility is to protect the health and welfare of the animals under your care. If you have any concerns that an animal’s owner or keeper is harming them or is likely to do so, either deliberately or by neglect, that animal’s welfare must come first. Please contact us if you believe an animal’s owner or keeper is harming them, being sure to take due consideration of other professional responsibilities.
Please note that this advice is produced by the RSPCA and applies to England and Wales. The same RCVS rules apply to vets Scotland but the animal welfare laws are different and you should consult the SSPCA for advice if required.
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If an alleged offence has been committed, our officers will carry out a full and thorough investigation. Read our frequently asked questions about investigations to find out more.
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We ask people to take action to help small sick or injured wild animals themselves, rather than waiting for the RSPCA. That’s because it’s the quickest way for thousands of wild animals to get the urgent help they need. Every time a kind member of the public helps a wild animal, it frees up our specialist rescuers to reach animals suffering from cruelty and neglect. We really appreciate it.
If you’re not able to help a sick, injured or trapped wild animal safely yourself and are sure you need our specialist skills, please use the information at the top of this page to get in touch. We will do whatever we can to help.