The 7 weirdest calls the RSPCA has received

Undoubtedly, the RSPCA does incredible work, rescuing tens of thousands of animals a year and answering calls from concerned animal-lovers every 27 seconds.

Other times, though, it ends up rushing out to protect UK citizens from an inanimate children's toy

In 2017, the RSPCA received 1.1 million phone calls - and here are the weirdest of the lot, covering everything from concerns over fake animals to garden ornaments.

1. This giant toy spider looked a bit too real for comfort.

Picture: RSPCA

A mum phoned the RSPCA saying she'd found a spider the size of her hand in a cupboard.

Kitted out with gloves and nets, inspector Nikki Denham rushed to the family home.

After shining a torch on it, it didn't take long for her to realise that it was a plastic toy. She said:

The woman’s young son confirmed with an angelic innocent face that it was his.

The poor caller was obviously embarrassed but it won't be the first or last call we’ll have like that I'm sure.

2. When it's time to tidy your room.

Picture: RSPCA

Yep, a lot of these problems would be solved if people just invested in an eye test.

Animal collection officer Vic Hurr approached what was reported to be a reptile cautiously. But it turned out to just be a sock.

Hurr said:

It was around 7ins long and about 2ins wide.

It was protruding from the edge of the bed and it wasn’t moving at all. As it wasn’t very light, I got out my torch to see better and that’s when I realised it wasn’t a lizard at all… it was a pink stripey sock!

I advised the young girl whose bedroom it was to tidy her room and to take care of her socks, but not before reminding her that another one will turn up soon as they are usually in pairs!

3. Horsing around.

Picture: RSPCA

This time, officers investigated a horse had been tied to the back of a trailer by its legs.

Yet its complete stillness didn't seem strange to the many motorists who rung the RSPCA up in concern. At least people's hearts are in the right place?

4. This heron will sadly never move again

Picture: RSPCA

But unlike what one well-meaning caller presumed, the heron is not stuck because it has a broken leg.

It's because it's a garden ornament, obviously. Look at it. It's completely, unnaturally grey.

5. Come on, these don't look anything like sheep.

Picture: RSPCA

Animal collection officer Sophie Wilson clambered for 20 minutes up a steep hill to rescue six balloons from brambles, which a concerned neighbour thought were ewes.

Wilson said:

He was clearly very worried for the sheep and had spent two days calling local farmers to try to get someone to rescue the sheep before alerting us.

You can imagine my surprise when I arrived to find four white balloons and two blue bobbing around in the breeze!

6. They really need to stop making such realistic children's toys.

Picture: RSPCA

A snake on the loose is dangerous business. So, after a family spotted one in their front garden, inspector Dale Grant rushed to their house. He said:

When I arrived at the property I had my snake kit at the ready.

As the family hadn’t been able to officially identify the snake it’s really important to approach these situations to confine the animal as safely as possible, particularly if it’s suspected that the snake may be venomous.

However, it didn’t take me too long to realise that this snake was the plastic kind, but it’s a fairly realistic toy.

It’s been made to look like a cobra that is rearing his head in the typical hooded display, so it could look pretty lifelike from a distance...

7. This poor dog is stuffed.

Picture: RSPCA

After a caller reported the body of a dead dog, inspector Lorna Campbell rushed to the scene hoping there'd still be some life left in the pooch. She said:

When I arrived I quickly established that there would be no possible way to save the dog – because it was a stuffed toy.

Assistant director of the RSPCA Inspectorate Dermot Murphy said:

When you’re working with animals, you expect the unexpected - but some of the calls we get are downright bizarre! From stuffed toys to socks, our officers have had it all. And while it’s a bit of light relief in a generally tough and emotional job, there’s a serious message here too.

The RSPCA is under increasing pressure and we’re facing more calls each year. We appreciate that most people mean well but we would urge callers to stop and think before asking us for help.

While we’d like to be able to help everyone, we simply haven’t got the staff to personally investigate each and every issue that the public brings to us. We must prioritise to make sure we get to the animals most in need.

Click here to help the RSPCA rescue more (genuinely in need) animals.

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