Animals taken by RSPCA from Roger's Wildlife Rescue in Brighton

Roger’s Wildlife Rescue, which has served the Brighton area for 56 years, closed last month due to stricter rules and regulations that were "forced upon" people who rescue wildlife.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has visited his centre in Downs Valley Road, Woodingdean in August 2021 and the beginning of April this year, they have confirmed in a statement.

The RSPCA first visited in August 2021 after “concerns were raised” about conditions animals were being kept in and “the fact animals were being left without necessary veterinary treatment”.

Roger Musselle has been working with wildlife for more than 55 years

The charity said it visited in April after “fresh concerns and took further animals for help”.

Roger Musselle told The Argus the volume of gulls “had become too high to cope with” but denied claims that he “wasn’t looking after birds properly”.

The rescue centre received around 400 gulls in a 12 week period last summer. Roger stated his centre did not have the capacity to deal with that.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “We visited Rogers Wildlife Rescue in August 2021 after concerns were raised about the conditions animals were being kept in and the fact animals were being left without necessary veterinary treatment.

"We tried to work with them to improve conditions and they agreed we could take a number of animals for urgent veterinary attention. We returned earlier this month following fresh concerns and took further animals for help.

“The RSPCA rescues and rehabilitates thousands of wild animals every year and we have four specialist centres operating across the country. However, we can’t do this vital work alone and we rely on wonderful partnerships with many wildlife charities and rehabilitators who are as dedicated and passionate as us about saving our wildlife.

Roger said the number of gulls had become too high to cope with

“We seek to provide the highest standards to the animals in our care - including conditions that mimic their natural habitats as closely as possible - and we will only partner with organisations who meet the same level of care as us. However, anyone who is taking care of animals must adhere to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and ensure they are meeting their basic needs.”

Mr Musselle said some of the regulations he faced were “impossible to meet” which is partly why he has retired after 56 years.

The 77-year-old said: “At the end of the season, with gulls and feral pigeons there is always a surplus that need to be put to sleep. We give them every chance to survive and be released so we allowed the RSPCA to take those away to be put to sleep.

“They told us at the time there was no intentional neglect and agreed that the number of gulls had become too high for us to cope with.

Roger Musselle looked after a wide variety of animals at his centre

“We told them after that we decided not to take baby gulls in anymore. We were getting 400 gulls in 12 weeks and we realised we weren’t giving them the right amount of housing required for that number of gulls. After all, we’re doing this from home.

“They agreed that we had got too big for ourselves. My wife Fleur and I, we put our heart and soul into this. We work above and beyond, we don’t take holidays.

“When they came the second time, we had complied with everything they suggested on the first visit. A couple of hedgehogs and some pigeons which had come in from vets with horrendous injuries, they should have been put down to be honest.

He has retired from his rescue centre after 56 years

“We give everything as much chance to live as we can but we often put birds down for euthanasia.

“Injured birds need time and if you can give them time and the tender loving care we give them, a lot of those birds make remarkable recoveries. A lot of those birds the RSPCA wouldn’t agree should have that time because they think an injured bird needs to be put to sleep straight away.

“We were told that all animals must see a vet within 24 hours, that’s impossible for us to meet because we get up to 50 birds a day coming in.”

In terms of places where gulls and other animals can be taken, Mr Musselle said: “It’s obviously putting more pressure on the people who are left. Everywhere is full up with gulls.”