RSPCA Isle of Wight and the Isle of Wight Council have seen a record number of dogs abandoned on the Island this Spring. The RSPCA have helped 6 abandoned dogs in the last three months.

The Isle of Wight Council’s Public Realm Officer team have encountered a staggering 20 stray dogs in the last 12 months, 12 of which were abandoned and required rehoming.

A stray dog is legally defined as any dog found in a public place or on private land without the consent of the landowner/occupier and not under the control of any person. This includes cases of abandoned dogs.

One recent example was Rocky, who was found tied to a tree in Bonchurch and subsequently rescued by members of the RSPCA team. Rocky is doing well at the RSPCA’s Island Animal Centre, steadily re-building trust around people.

Imrani was found with help from the volunteer at TrackADog and Drone SAR. When found, he was severely underweight and incredibly anxious. He is being treated by the team at Carisbrooke Vets and is steadily building weight and his trust with the RSPCA staff and volunteers.

Rodney was collected by the Council’s Public Realm team and sadly remained unclaimed. With no microchip, it’s not been possible to locate his owner. Following health and behaviour assessments, Rodney will soon be ready to find his forever home with an adoptive family.

Natasha Dix, Isle of Wight Council’s service director waste, environment and planning, said: “As dog owners, we take on a responsibility. We are custodians of the animals we bring into our homes, committing to care for them throughout their lives. No dog should ever be abandoned.

“Our Public Realm Officers are working tirelessly alongside the RSPCA to bring these animals to safety and ensure they receive the care they need, but the reality is this situation is entirely preventable with responsible ownership.

“We’re urging all dog owners to act responsibly by making sure their pets are microchipped and that contact details are kept up to date. It’s a simple legal requirement, but more importantly, it’s the quickest and most effective way to reunite lost dogs with their families safely.”

Steve Backhouse, RSPCA branch director, said: “News of another abandoned dog has sadly become all too familiar this year.

“Invariably being abandoned takes its toll – it can take time and a lot of behaviour work to improve a dog’s trust and reduce anxiety. We’re particularly grateful to those special adopters who can offer a forever home and continue this rehabilitation work.

“Rocky and Imrani are likely to be with us for a little while longer, however we’re hopeful that the right adopters can provide the long-term love and care that they both need.”

The Isle of Wight Council’s Public Realm Officer team continues to work very closely with the RSPCA to support the Island’s stray dogs.

Both the RSPCA and Council stress the importance of microchipping. Thousands of pets are lost every year and many are never reunited with their owners.

Microchipping gives pets the best chance of being identified and returned if they get lost or stolen.

Microchipping is a legal requirement for all dog owners in England. All puppies must be microchipped and recorded on a microchip database by the time they are eight weeks old. If a dog owner moves, changes contact telephone number, etc. the details must be updated.

The RSPCA team can also offer low-cost microchipping and can check that contact details stored on the national database are up to date.

Image provided by RSPCA