Animals get themselves up to all sorts - and nobody sees that more than the RSPCA’s team of rescuers.
In 2021, 281,390 incidents were reported to the charity’s frontline teams via its emergency hotline - 44,998 in the South East and 4,355 in Hertfordshire (Figures relate to number of incidents reported between January 1, and November 30, 2021) - including a fox cub who needed help after getting his back leg stuck in the metal grate of a drain in Berkhamsted.
Rescuer Lauren Bailey was called to help the stricken youngster on August 8, when passers-by spotted the poor cub.
She said: “The fox must have got stuck after his leg fell down the gap and was quite distressed and bedraggled, from the rain, when I arrived.
"We offered him a little dish of water and then set about carefully trying to wriggle him free. Thankfully, I was able to get him out but was concerned about his leg so took him to a wildlife hospital for treatment.”
Luckily, all the rescues featured here had happy endings. Here the RSPCA reveals its top rescues of 2021 across the South East.
The RSPCA is the only charity out on the frontline rescuing animals from all sorts of situations 365 days a year. To help rescuers be there for the animals in need this winter, visit the RSPCA website and Join the Winter Rescue.
13.
A deer ran into a fence and got stuck fast THREE times as rescuers battled to free her and release her safely to the wild in Kent. Rescuer Grace Harris-Bridge was called to the Tunbridge Wells garden on 9 September after spotting the deer stuck between metal railings. Photo: RSPCA
14.
A runaway lizard prompted a major rescue mission after he slipped out of his enclosure, climbed out of a window, scaled the outside wall of his terraced home and settled in to sunbathe on the roof! RSPCA inspector David Grant was called to Folkestone Harbour in Kent on 27 September to help the naughty lizard! Photo: RSPCA
15.
A man cooking dinner had quite the shock when a little snake slithered out from underneath his microwave! Surprised, he called the RSPCA for help and rescuer Clive Hopwood went to the home in Edenbridge, Kent, on 20 October to collect him. Photo: RSPCA
16.
It was RSPCA inspector Mitchell Smith to the rescue when a fox got her head stuck in a home in some wooden decking! He was called to a garden in Luton, Bedfordshire, on 16 October. Photo: RSPCA