Dozens of animals rescued this year by firefighters in Brent

Data from the London Fire Brigade, analysed by students from Kingsbury High School with media literacy charity The Student View, shows that between January and September 2022 there were 28 animal rescue incidents in Brent.

This is a 12 per cent increase on the same period of time in 2021, and more than double the number of incidents in the same period in 2019.

In the entire year of 2021, 31 animals were rescued in Brent by the London Fire Brigade, compared to just 16 rescued in 2019. Each rescue is the equivalent cost to the taxpayer of £350 to £450, depending on how long it takes, and how many responders are needed.

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A London Fire Brigade spokesperson told The Student View: “While we can’t give a definite reason for an increase in this type of call, it could be partly due to people spending more time outdoors during and going on more walks during lockdown – who have spotted these animals in distress and called 999.

“We’re also aware of a spike in people getting pets during the pandemic so this could be another reason for the increase.”

In 2022 so far, around 40pc of the fire brigade animal rescues in Brent have been for cats, while seven were birds, and four were dogs.

In July, the fire brigade in Brent worked with the police to help a dog trapped upstairs in an abandoned house in North Maida Vale.

In August the firefighters rescued a pregnant dog that was stuck under some decking, and just two days later they were called to help a hedgehog trapped in a drain.

Across London, the London Fire Brigade has rescued more than 800 animals so far this year - primarily cats, dogs and birds, but also eight horses, two snakes and a ferret that was stuck inside a chimney.

Brent is comes 15th in London for the number of animals rescued. Tower Hamlets tops the list with 41 animals already rescued this year.