RSPCA rope rescue team reveals life on the edge: numbers of animal cliff rescues on the increase

Friday, 7 October 2011 2:53 PM

The RSPCA rescues a stricken animal from a cliff ledge or isolated mountainside approximately once every two-and-a-half days, new statistics have revealed today.

Walkers enjoying coastal paths around England and Wales have been urged to keep their dogs on leads, after RSPCA rescue teams collected 140 animals from cliffs in 2010, compared to 136 in 2009 and 116 in 2008. They had already collected 73 this year by the end of June.

In the new RSPCA October podcast, inspector Richard Abbott – a specially trained rope rescue expert who has carried out more than 100 such rescues in the past 15 years – warned dog walkers that livestock scared by their pets can often become stranded on isolated ledges.

He said: “The majority of sheep will have been driven off the edge of a cliff by a dog. It could be that the dog was in perfect control by the owner, but off the lead. That will be enough to frighten that sheep over the edge of the cliff.

“I think it is very frustrating, speaking to farmers, how often they see people walking with dogs on the coastal paths, with a dog not on the lead. I think the most important message is for people to put their dog on a lead, under control, especially when there are sheep around.”

You can listen to the full podcast, and learn more about life as a member of an RSPCA rope rescue team, by visiting the RSPCA website www.rspca.org.uk/podcast

Inspectors who join the rope rescue teams go through rigorous training to prepare themselves for recovering livestock, pets and wildlife safely from dangerous situations. Often they have to abseil down cliff faces and mountainsides hundreds of feet high to reach the stricken animals.

However, rope rescues are only part of their daily duties as RSPCA inspectors which sees them investigate allegations of cruelty and help all types of animal in need.

“You do get some people who think it is a lot of fuss for a sheep, while other people are relieved that you are there and doing something about it. We are the RSPCA though. It doesn’t matter what animal it is to us. If it is in a place of jeopardy or danger then we will do what we can to rescue it,” added Richard.

Notes to editors

The RSPCA podcast is available to listen to at www.rspca.org.uk/podcast

For more information or photographs contact the RSPCA press office on 0300 123 0244 or email press@rspca.org.uk

Tags:
• animal welfare