A woman was left baffled after she answered the door – to find a canary in a cage on her front step.
Unsure of what to do after finding the little bird – now named Tuppence – she contacted the RSPCA for help.
The poor bird was dumped on the doorstep of the woman’s home in Chessington, Surrey, last month, but she is dumbfounded as to who might have left the little flapper.
Carl Hone, RSPCA animal welfare officer, said: “We’re really grateful to this lady for finding the bird and keeping her safe until we could collect her.
“The poor little bird was just left on a stranger’s doorstep in her cage.
“Whoever abandoned her clearly wanted to ensure that someone would find her and help as they left her on the front step of somebody’s home and also alerted the homeowner to her presence by ringing the bell before running away.
“I’d like to remind pet owners that they are responsible for ensure their animals’ needs are met and it simply isn’t acceptable to abandon them like this.
“However, we do understand that sometimes the pressures of life can get on top of people and we would urge anyone who is struggling to cope with caring for their pets to contact their vet or an animal charity for help.”
Tuppence has now been taken into RSPCA care and is being looked after by staff at the charity’s Millbrook Animal in Centre in Chobham, Surrey.
