Dog was dumped (alive) in bag outside Finsbury Park Animal Hospital part of 'Animal abandonment ‘epidemic’

A dog was dumped in a sports bag outside Finsbury Park Animal Hospital, prompting an urgent plea from the RSPCA.

The poor dog was left outside the hospital door on Sonderberg Road at around 4am on October 19 and found seriously ill. After receiving treatment at the hospital, the dog was named Ruaidhri.

This news comes as the animal welfare charity says it is tackling a skyrocketing number of animals being dumped outside. In England and Wales, 24,270 incidents of abandonment were reported – marking a 23 per cent increase on last year.

Simon Osborne, an RSPCA superintendent, said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year for many pets, and we have seen a dramatic and heartbreaking rise in abandonments this year".

Mr Osborne described “an epidemic” of animal abandonment which is “tragically widespread”. He added that reports of abandonment are set to reach their highest mark in at least six years, and the worst could be yet to come as we enter a grim winter period.

He urged people to consider donating to the RSPCA's Give Back to Animals appeal. 

Thanks to the Evening Standard for this news.