Saddest, oddest and most shocking rescues of the past 12 months uncovered

Every week the RSPCA receives calls from people asking for help rescuing cats stuck up trees, but the charity is also regularly called out to some rather more unusual situations.



Last year, the charity reports it collected and rescued 194,965 animals and has now revealed some of the strangest and saddest rescues of the past 12 months.



Some unusual rescues have included a fox found on a shelf, a mouse inside a toaster and a cat with her head stuck in a tin can.



“From gas explosions to oil spills and floods to strange and unusual rescues like a dog in a plughole – our officers are trained to be able to deal with any situation,” says Jason Finch, RSPCA national flood rescue coordinator.



He continued: “Bringing animals to safety and reuniting pets and farm animals with their grateful owners, as well as seeing wildlife re-released into their natural habitat, is one of the best parts of the job.”



One of the most unusual rescues of 2012, the charity says, was Little Emma, a Yorkshire terrier whose foot got stuck in the plug hole of a bath. RSPCA officers ended up removing the whole plug and taking out a bath panel to free her.



In another case, a tiny kitten, since named Macavity, was rescued after being trapped inside the cavity wall of a home for several days. 



RSPCA animal welfare officer, Felicity Cross, was shocked to discover that the kitten was just six weeks old, commenting: “What was even more surprising is that we undertook a thorough search of the property, including the loft, and we couldn’t find any sign of the mother or any other kittens.

"There was absolutely no indication of how Macavity got there. He really is a mystery cat.”

Image courtesy of RSPCA