Latest news with #BenFitzcosta
BBC News
01-07-2025
- BBC News
South East sees rise in summer reports of animal cruelty
The South East of England has seen a rise of more than 15% in animal cruelty reports in the summer months, according to RPSCA data shared with the charity received 2,039 reports from Surrey, Kent, and East and West Sussex between June and August 2024, up from 1,766 reports in the same period the year data also shows that reports have risen nationally by 33%.The government says it is committed to upholding the highest animal welfare standards and that "all cases of animal cruelty are unacceptable". Kent received the most reports in the region, seeing an increase of 10% with 903 in June and August both East and West Sussex, there were 738 animal animal cruelty reports in the same period, up more than 18% on the previous Surrey had the biggest increase in the region with a rise of 34% - 398 reports between June and August 2024, up from 298 in on BBC Radio Surrey, RSPCA animal rescue officer Ben Fitzcosta said the summer was the local branch's busiest period."We are slightly concerned how much that is going to increase this year," he added. The RPSCA says it fears the national increase is due partly to a fall-out following the rise in pet ownership during the charity says it also usually sees a spike in reports over the summer as longer days mean more people are out and likely to spot chief inspector Ian Briggs said: "This year, sadly, we fear the trend will continue and we are already busier than ever rescuing animals from many awful situations."
BBC News
16-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fox lured from seven-storey Weybridge rooftop using sardines
A fox stranded on the roof of a seven-storey building in Surrey has been rescued by the found the fox on a rooftop in Manor Court, Weybridge, after she chewed through a fire door in the apartment building, but was unable to get back officers were unable to catch the fox using a "grasper" so instead laid a trap with food and water, but she showed little interest until some fresh sardines were used as fox was eventually brought to safety and was successfully released into the wild on Tuesday. Ben Fitzcosta and Meg Lloyd were the officers who saved the day."We tried to catch her with the grasper first but she was very scared, and we feared she would jump over the scaffolding. So we left a trap out with food in it overnight and some water for her," said Mr Fitzcosta."Unfortunately she wasn't tempted at first, but when I replaced the food with sardines she went straight in."Safely in the trap we got her back down to ground level and assessed her. Thankfully she was in really good condition, so I released her at the nearby cricket club."She shot out of the basket at such a speed I dropped my phone and missed filming the release. It's a great sign that she has bounced back from the ordeal."The RSPCA said anyone who finds an injured or sick fox should not try to handle it and should keep a safe distance.
