Charity has seen a 90% drop in claims for the payment.

The RSPCA will stop initial emergency treatment (IET) payments to vets for unowned animals at the end of this year.

The charity has seen claims for IET reduced by 87% in the last two years, with the majority of vet practices not claiming for this work.

Like other charities, the RSPCA is facing serious financial pressures, as the annual cost of caring for rescued animals has increased by £17m since 2020, with teams taking in record numbers of rescued animals this summer.

Rebecca Ashman, the RSPCA’s Head Vet for Operations, Partnerships and Prevention, said: “Private vets play a critical role on the frontline of animal welfare, and the RSPCA will continue to work closely with the vet community to tackle cruelty and neglect.

“In recent years, claims for IET payments have steadily reduced as vet practices understand their responsibilities under the RCVS Code in providing treatment to injured wildlife and stray animals. Thanks to this, and better understanding of the role and remit of the RSPCA, we have been able to focus our charity resources on managing cases of cruelty and neglect. Therefore, we have taken this decision to stop Initial Emergency Treatment (IET) payments at the end of this year.

“While IET has been a part of our history, the veterinary profession has evolved significantly, with practices having their own guidelines and schemes in place to meet their obligations under the RCVS code.”

Last year the charity spent more than £3.7 million for the treatment and care of its rescued animals at private vet practices and issued £500,000 of Inspectorate vouchers redeemable at private practices to help support struggling pet owners get access to medical care for their animals.

In spring 2025 the charity launched a new online Wildlife Toolkit to provide vets and nurses with quick, easy-to-access practical information about British wildlife triage and care.

Rebecca added: “The RSPCA has always worked closely with the veterinary professions and we are very grateful for the ongoing support of practices with our work. Colleagues will be aware that we have increasingly needed to focus on our core work of rescuing and rehabilitating neglected and cruelly treated animals, in the face of growing demand.

“We have seen the number of animals in our care grow; we are now caring for double the number of cats and dogs since the pandemic, many of whom need longer, more complex rehabilitation due to the nature of why they came into our care.

“Despite work to put the RSPCA on a more sustainable footing, between 2020 and 2024, the annual cost of rescuing and caring for animals has gone up by £17m, due to rising energy prices, veterinary costs, the increased need to pay for private boarding and the increase in the number of animals in our care. Alongside this, unforeseen costs such as the hike in national insurance, high inflation, rising fuel and increase in the cost of living, means it is a challenging climate for all charities, putting us under pressure at a time when donations are slowing across the sector.”

The RSPCA will continue to allocate log numbers for IET until the end of the year (2025). Vets have until the end of January 2026 to make any requests for payment in the usual way, and can contact the RSPCA Vetline with any questions.

Rebecca concluded: “Stopping IET at the end of this year will enable the RSPCA to focus its limited resources on its core mission of preventing cruelty and promoting kindness to animals. We will continue to work closely with key stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition and clear communication regarding these changes.”