Cost of living and mental health crisis driving mass animal rescues, says RSPCA

The animal charity says most large-scale incidents are the result of people becoming overwhelmed and not knowing what to do. Photograph: RSPCA

The cost of living crisis and an increase in people experiencing mental health difficulties have led to a rising number of multi-animal rescues in England and Wales, an RSPCA superintendent has said.

The animal charity this week had to confirm that a shocking photograph of more than 250 poodle-cross dogs found at a property in the UK was not faked with artificial intelligence. The RSPCA took in 87 of the dogs and the remainder went to the Dogs Trust, another charity.