THE RSPCA is bracing itself for the toughest Christmas yet as the charity fears the financial strain from the coronavirus pandemic could mean a rise in pets being abandoned and neglected.
Last Christmas Day, the charity received more than 950 calls, the highest number since 2013 and it dealt with 1,827 incidents in Lancashire across the winter period, December, January, February, with 617 of those in December alone.
Dermot Murphy, head of the RSPCA’s animal rescue teams, said: “Christmas may be different for many people this year but for the RSPCA, our teams will be working day in, day out, as usual, rescuing, caring and rehabilitating those animals who need us the most.
“Last year, we rescued thousands of animals over the winter months and we fear that due to the pandemic, we could be facing our toughest Christmas yet as we are braced for a rise in abandoned and neglected animals needing our help.”
The charity’s officers are out on the frontline 365 days a year, despite the pandemic, with frontline teams saving animals and caring for them at centres and hospitals across England and Wales.
This year the RSPCA is asking supporters to Join the Christmas Rescue by donating to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them.
Throughout December 2019, the charity dealt with more than 20,000 incidents and took 2,587 more animals into its care, including 558 dogs, 1,416 cats, 149 rabbits, and 167 wildlife.
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