Join us for a fabulously Fun Dog Show at our Martlesham Animal Centre on Sunday 6 September, 11:30am – 3:30pm. Free entry, with free parking at the nearby Martlesham Community Centre!

As always, our friendly fun dog show is the centrepiece of the event, but there is lots of stalls and activities to keep you entertained. We will be having an RSPCA tombola and raffle, refreshments of homemade cakes and biscuits, food stalls, craft stalls, pet products and accessories for sale – and our Animal Centre will be open for you to look around and visit some of the animals looking for new homes!

Dog Show registration from 12 noon.
Judging from 1pm.

Each prize winner (first, second and highly commended in each class) will receive a rosette and prize bag with the Class winner receiving a voucher from our kind sponsors, Gladwells Pet & Country stores. You can find out more about Gladwells and the locations of their stores across Suffolk here. The Dog of the Day will also receive a special rosette and trophy to take home courtesy of P&R Locksmiths and an extra voucher from Gladwells!

Dog show classes with approx. timings are:

1pm: Crossbreed with Character

1:15pm: Happiest Hound

1:30pm: Young at Heart (dogs 8 years +)

1:45pm: Second Chance (any rescue dog)
Class kindly sponsored by

2:15pm: Marvellous Male

2pm: Fabulous Female

2:30pm: Lovely Mover (Strutters, prancers, wheelies and bouncers all welcome!)
Class kindly sponsored by

2:45pm: Dog of the Day (open only to the first prize winners of previous classes)

All times are approximate and subject to change

₤3.00 per class or 3 classes for ₤8 (per dog)
– Maximum 3 classes per dog.
– No puppies under 6 months old accepted in any class.
– Dogs with docked tails or cropped ears can only be shown in the Second Chance Class.
– No unaccompanied children under 14.

All proceeds will go to the RSPCA Suffolk Central Branch to help animals in need across Suffolk.

We have some spaces for stalls/trade stands. If you are interested in attending, please contact Mary Taylor at mary.taylor@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk for more information and availability.

Please note:

Our dog shows are meant to be a fun day out for you and your pooch. However, this should never come at a risk to your pet. As the British weather can get very hot so we will be monitoring the temperatures and, unless we feel we can operate in a safe comfortable environment for your dogs, we may cancel this event at short notice. We urge you to read our guidance on taking dogs out in hot weather, which can be found here.

This event is kindly sponsored by:

Join us for a fabulously Fun Dog Show at the Earl Stonham Village Hall on Sunday 4 October, 11:30am – 3:30pm. Free entry and plenty of free parking!

As always, our friendly fun dog show is the centrepiece of the event, but there will be lots of stalls and activities to keep you entertained. We will be having an RSPCA tombola and raffle, refreshments, craft stalls, pet products and accessories for sale.

Dog Show registration from 12 noon.
Judging from 1pm.

Each prize winner (first, second and highly commended in each class) will receive a rosette and prize bag with the Class winner receiving a voucher from our kind sponsors, Gladwells Pet & Country stores. You can find out more about Gladwells and the locations of their stores across Suffolk here. The Dog of the Day will also receive a special rosette and trophy to take home courtesy of P&R Locksmiths and an extra voucher from Gladwells!

Dog show classes with approx. timings are:

1pm: Crossbreed with Character

1:15pm: Happiest Hound

1:30pm: Young at Heart (dogs 8 years +)

1:45pm: Second Chance (any rescue dog)

2pm: Fabulous Female

2:15pm: Marvellous Male

2:30pm: Lovely Mover (Strutters, prancers, wheelies and bouncers all welcome!)
This class is kindly sponsored by

2:45pm: Dog of the Day (open only to the first prize winners of previous classes)

All times are approximate and subject to change

₤3.00 per class or 3 classes for ₤8 (per dog)
– Maximum 3 classes per dog.
– No puppies under 6 months old accepted in any class.
– Dogs with docked tails or cropped ears can only be shown in the Second Chance Class.
– No unaccompanied children under 14.

All proceeds will go to the RSPCA Suffolk Central Branch to help animals in need across Suffolk.

We have some spaces for stalls/trade stands. If you are interested in attending, please contact Mary Taylor at mary.taylor@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk for more information and availability.

Please note:

Our dog shows are meant to be a fun day out for you and your pooch. However, this should never come at a risk to your pet. As the British weather can get very hot so we will be monitoring the temperatures and, unless we feel we can operate in a safe comfortable environment for your dogs, we may cancel this event at short notice. We urge you to read our guidance on taking dogs out in hot weather, which can be found here.

One Fun Day & Dog Show, Dog of the Day winner, Oscar.

This show is kindly sponsored by:

This show is also sponsored by:

We’re proud to be selling our RSPCA Suffolk Central branded dog biscuits in our shops, at our events and at our Martlesham Animal Centre.

Made by the fabulous team at Berner Bakes, they are grain-free peanut butter & honey flavoured and are proving very popular with our canine customers. Priced at only £2.00 each they make a fabulous treat for your ever-hungry pooches – and they’re raising vital funds to help for animals in need with each one bought!

The team at Berner Bakes are also kindly offering a donation of 10% from the sale of any purchases (excluding personalised items) bought on their website https://bernerbakes.co.uk/ to RSPCA Suffolk Central – just enter code ‘RSPCASC’ when you checkout to claim.

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!

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.

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

Last week saw the official opening of our brand new Cat Isolation Unit.

Lovingly named the Selwyn Isolation Unit, the ribbon was officially cut by Pauline and Derek of the Millar Danks Trust with help from Donna Rich (cattery supervisor and deputy manager).

Through their Charitable Trust, Pauline and Derek have provided financial support for this and many other projects at our Martlesham Rehoming Centre, for which we will be forever grateful.

The building is a bespoke isolation unit to help us appropriately care for sick and injured cats who need special care during their recovery.

Thanks to the kindness of the Millar Danks Charitable Trust, and the support of Benchmarx Kitchens and Wickes, we’ve been able to turn our vision into reality and the entire team is thrilled.