Do you want to take on a high adrenaline challenge to raise funds for animals in need across Suffolk?

The pawfect challenge would be to undertake a tandem skydive from 13,000ft and be sponsored by your friends and family!

RSPCA Suffolk Central branch helps animals in need in your local community through rehoming and rehabilitation at our Martlesham Animal Centre, where we help nearly 300 animals a year find new homes; providing access to low-cost vet care, treatment and medication for nearly 3,000 pets through our Welfare Clinics; and subsidised neutering and microchipping programs.

Join us on Saturday 12th April 2025 at Beccles Airfield. To secure your charity-funded place, you will need to sign up today, pay a £50 deposit and commit to raising at least £395 for RSPCA Suffolk Central branch, we will then pay for the cost of your jump.

If you’d prefer to self-fund your jump, you can pay the full price of the jump today or make a £50 deposit and pay the balance on the day of the jump.

BOOK TODAY to secure your place or contact 01502 476131 or fundraising@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk for support.

Gifts in wills are vital to fund our important work long into the future and in 2023 over 50% of our income came from legacies.

RSPCA Suffolk Central have teamed up with will-writing specialists Farewill so you can write your will for free. It only takes 30 minutes and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. 

Why not get started today!

Whilst there is no obligation to include a gift in your will, we hope you will consider leaving a gift once your loved ones are provided for.

Visit our webpage to find out more about gifts in wills. 

Thank you for building a better future for animals in need across Suffolk.

Shocking figures released by the RSPCA show the number of animals abandoned in England and Wales during the winter period has increased by a massive 51% in just three years.

In Suffolk latest figures show the number of abandonment reports to the RSPCA for 2023 was 216 up from 188 in 2021 when the cost of living crisis began – a staggering 15% increase.

The RSPCA received 3,071 animal abandonment reports during the winter period (November to January 2021). Last winter (November 2023 to January 2024) this rose to a staggering 4,630 pets who were reported to have been left to fend for themselves – which is a staggering 51% increase.

In total 20,999 abandonment reports were made to the charity’s emergency line in 2023 and according to latest 2024 figures (available up until the end of October) 19,067 have been reported this year – which, if the trend continues, will be almost 23,000 reports.

Before the cost of living crisis the number of reported abandonments during 2020 stood at 16,118 reports – showing a 30% rise in calls in just three years.

It’s a shocking trend with a year-on-year increase in the number of abandonment reports, climbing from 17,179 in 2021 to 19,645 in 2022.

The RSPCA believes the surge in pet ownership during the Covid-19 lockdown and the increasing financial hardships due to soaring living costs have led to the increase in people dumping their pets.

And sadly now, during the winter months, the RSPCA expects the crisis to worsen as more people struggle with the increase in expenditure around Christmas time with presents to buy and extra food shopping – coupled with an increase in energy bills. 

RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs said: “We are seeing a shocking rise in the number of calls reporting pet abandonment to our emergency line during winter with an eye-watering 51% rise in three years. Sadly we expect the trend will continue as more pet owners face financial hardship at this time of year more than any other.

“Our rescuers are regularly coming across dogs in poor health, collapsed and left in isolated spots to suffer a lingering death; sick kittens discarded in cardboard boxes who are lucky to be found alive; or pet rabbits dumped in the wild with little chance of survival against predators.

“With the cost of living crisis we are also seeing people having to move out of properties due to financial pressures, and we are increasingly coming across pets who have been left locked in homes alone after their owners have moved out – like Dorothy and Glinda pictured (right) who were left in a property after their previous owners moved away. The pair were rescued by RSPCA inspectors and were placed in the care of the RSPCA Suffolk Central Branch and have since been rehomed.

Mum Glinda (pictured below) who is thought to be aged between one and three years old took a while to settle and at first could often be found hiding in her igloo bed.

But thanks to the dedication and care of the branch staff she started to feel more confident and her personality of being a sweet girl came through.

She still likes to watch the world go by from the security of her igloo bed but since getting to know the team she has started to venture out in  the staff’s company and gives them permission to give her small doses of fuss by nudging their hands.

Her daughter Dorothy, thought to be only around three to four months old, was very affectionate from day one. Both cats have gone on to be rehomed.

“Heartbreakingly, we are seeing many pets left in their own filth – with no food or water, no-one to care for them and no idea if anyone will come to help them.

“Thanks to the public supporting us we are able to rescue many animals, rehabilitate them and find them new homes – but to continue this life-saving work we need your help.”

Ian added: “Right now, far too many animals are suffering behind closed doors. But as long as animals are in desperate need this Christmas, we won’t stop.

“So please help in whatever way you can and together we will bring joy and safety to animals. For thousands of terrified and injured animals, we’ll turn the worst suffering into the best Christmas yet – because it will be the one where their lives change forever.”

You can donate to RSPCA Suffolk Central branch online here.

L-R
Back row: Tracy Barritt-Brown (artist who created the Safe Haven tree), Mayor Sanders, Geoffrey and Jean Short, Mary Taylor (Trustee), Justin Grimwood (Maintenance Person)
Front row: Lorna Goodwin (Corporate & Community Fundraiser), Zoe Barrett-Lamb (Animal Centre Manager), Chloe Hazell (Branch Manager), Dawn the Dog and Lucy Calver (Senior Kennel Assistant)
Mayor of Woodbridge, Robin Sanders takes a tour of our Martlesham Animal Centre ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our Safe Haven tree.
Memorial leaf
Mayor of Woodbridge, Robin Sanders takes a tour of our Martlesham Animal Centre ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our Safe Haven tree. Meeting the rabbits.

Last week we were thrilled to be able to officially launch our beautiful new Safe Haven tree installation at our Martlesham Animal Centre.

Kindly sponsored by Jean & Geoffrey Short, the tree was created by local willow artist Tracy Barritt-Brown and displays wooden leaves containing messages of love and remembrance from each of our Safe Haven sponsors.

We hope that visitors to the Animal Centre will stop and read some of the heart-warming and charming messages that made our team smile so much, and that future sponsors will personalise their leaves with pictures and messages.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was also attended by the Mayor of Woodbridge, Robin Sanders, who took a tour of the animal centre and was lucky enough to name a stray rabbit who arrived that afternoon – welcome Camille!

If you would like to sponsor an animal enclosure at our Martlesham Animal Centre, providing valuable funds to help support our vital work protecting animals in need across Suffolk, please visit https://rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk/get…/sponsorship/

Sponsorship would also make the most wonderful gift for any animal lover this Christmas!

You may have already heard of the name Ron Summers, an RSPCA Inspector who started his career in 1970 and saved more animals than can be remembered, while also helping to secure the animal home we work from now.

Ron joined us for coffee and cake in celebration of his work last week, and took the time to reminisce and tell some of the stories from his amazing career to help our current team understand how the RSPCA has developed in our area and what an impact Ron made.

We learnt that not much has changed when it comes to the neglect we see of animals, sadly the cases Ron dealt with then are still being seen now.

We heard how many of the animals Ron saved were cared for by him and his family in their own home. Including seal pups in the back garden!

We also got to see Ron’s huge collection of newspaper cuttings, photographs and leaflets from years past which were incredibly exciting – some of which will appear in Our Branch History section of our website over the coming weeks.

To top the day off, Ron’s son Michael presented us with old photos that have been on site, slightly damaged for years, in brand new mounts and frames thanks to his company Red Dog Frames. These will take pride of place in our reception for all to see.

Keep an eye out at our animal centre as we are aiming to create an archive of images and information dating back to 1934 for all to enjoy and learn from.

Ron you continue to be an inspiration and we hope you know how treasured you are.

Here’s to the next 50 years of animal rescue and rehabilitation!

Christmas can be a difficult time for the animals at our Martlesham Animal Centre and we are likely to have up to 100 animals with us during this period.

This year, we are asking you to help make the festive season special by donating a gift for them to enjoy!

Each type of animal at the centre has created their own Christmas list, stuffed with goodies they’d love to received in their stockings.

You can find their full lists and all the details on how you, your family, school or workplace could get involved here or you could shop from our Amazon Wish List.

Thank you!

We are very proud to announce the launch of our 2024 Christmas video, made with the generous help of our friends at Offset Films.

This year we wanted the video to focus on our services that help support families in need in Suffolk who, for whatever the circumstances, may be struggling to look after their pet.

RSPCA Suffolk Central doesn’t just focus on the rehoming and rehabilitation of animals, we work with the local community to help keep pets with their loving families and avoid the heartbreak of anyone having to surrender an animal they love.

Through our work at our Welfare Clinics we are able to support low-income families in getting a vet consultation from as little as £15 and we can provide subsidised medications. If your pet needs ongoing treatment we can also provide financial help towards this if you meet our eligibility criteria of earning under £15,000 a year and living in our branch area. Our Welfare Clinics are based in Ipswich, Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds.

We can also provide help to get your pet neutered. By using one of the vets involved in our scheme, you can receive up to 50% off the cost of having your dog or rabbit neutered or only have to contribute £15 towards the cost of having your cat neutered. At any other veterinary practice, we can cover up to 25% of the cost of neutering your animals.

Microchipping your dog or cat is a legal requirement and we offer pop-up donation-only microchipping clinics (keep an eye on our social media channels to find out when these are happening); or you can book an appointment for microchipping at our Martlesham Animal Centre from just £10 per pet.

We also run pop-up pet food banks that offer free food to those in need (again, keep an eye on social media to find out when/where these are run); but our Martlesham Animal Centre and Ipswich Welfare clinic offer low-cost pet food, pet products and accessories (beds, scratching posts etc.) for sale, and our shops stock a lovely variety of donated pet goods.

This year we are projected to provide nearly £40,000 of financial help across Suffolk through our welfare vouchers scheme and help 3,000+ animals in the community with visits to our Welfare Clinics, financial aid or neutering support.

If you’d like to donate help support our continued work for animals, and families, in need, please visit https://rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk/donate/

If you need support, please call us on 0300 999 7321 or email info@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk to chat about how we help.

Thank you.

Please note, our Ipswich Welfare Clinic will be closed between Monday 18th November to Monday 30th December 2024 for essential repairs.

But don’t worry, during this period we will be holding a Welfare Clinic every TUESDAY, from 12noon-1pm at:

Barn Vets
2a Ashcroft Road
Ipswich
Suffolk IP1 6AA

You do not need to book, we will see you in the order you arrive, but you will need to show proof of benefits to be seen.

If you need urgent help, please call our welfare line on 0300 330 1406.

We are pleased to invite you to our Fun Charity Quiz Night, which will be hosted by The Woolpack, 1 Tuddenham Road, Ipswich IP4 2SH on Sunday 9th March 2025.

Please come and join us for an evening of fun quizzing and help us raise money to care for animals in need in Suffolk.

7.30pm for 8pm start.

Tickets are £10 per person (pay on the night) and include a light supper (usually veggie chilli or mac n’ cheese) and we’ll be running our usual raffle for a chance to win some great prizes!

You can book your table now by calling the Woolpack on 01473 215862 – make sure to say you’re booking for the RSPCA Suffolk Central quiz night!

We hope you’ll be able to join us.

We are thrilled to have launched our new Corporate Partnership Scheme ready for 2025.

Designed to help local businesses across Suffolk show their support for our cause, engage their teams and receive some pawfect rewards in return.

All the details are on our website at https://rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk/get-involved/corporate/ but we’ve summarised the different packages on offer and the impact they could have to animals in desperate need in your community in our online brochure available to view here.

Please do get in touch if you’re interested – we’d love to hear from you!

Lorna Goodwin
Corporate & Community Fundraiser
E: lorna.goodwin@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk
M: 07842 935938