RSPCA makes important public appeal ahead of Euro 2024 amid shocking figures - 'Flood of recent reports'

The public appeal comes as England, Scotland and 22 other nations prepare to kick-off at Euro 2024.

The RSPCA has released figures, revealing that – in 2023 – there were 100 call-outs in Sussex to animal incidents referring to netting in 2023. There were a further 32 reports in Surrey.

The figure for East Sussex alone stood at 60 – the fourth highest in the UK.

The area with the highest number of reports was Greater London (284). This was followed by Devon with 111 reports and Kent with 67.

The data revealed that of the 1,644 reports received in 2023 of animals getting entangled in all types of netting, almost half of them (773) happened in the peak months of May, June and July.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “Now, as footie fever soars with the Euros, the animal charity fears even more animals could be trapped, injured or even killed by these innocent-looking items. So the charity is urging people to put away their garden football nets when not in use to help minimise the numbers of incidents.

"As the RSPCA gets ready to celebrate its 200th year of protecting animals, the charity has been left concerned by a flood of recent reports involving animals entangled in netting, coinciding with this summer’s peak football fever months.”

RSPCA Scientific Officer Rebecca Machin said: “We know so many people will be getting excited about the start of Euro 2024 – and think it's great that many will be inspired by the action, and want to get outside and have a kick around themselves.

“But unattended football and other netting can trap, injure and even kill wildlife and pets, so it’s really important to put nets safely away when they’re not being used after the game is done.

“The problem is so serious that during this May, we dealt with 53 incidents of netting-entangled foxes - mostly cubs - and that sadly included at least one fox cub death. That’s even higher than the numbers for the previous May (2023), when there were 52 incidents.

“But it’s not just foxes that are affected; other wild mammals like hedgehogs and deer, and even domestic pet mammals - including cats, can become potentially fatally entangled. But ahead of a difficult summer for many animals, people have the power to make a real difference.”