A NEW campaign hopes to help thousands of abused, neglected and abandoned animals this Christmas.

The RSPCA have launched its Stock the Sleigh appeal to help needy animals this winter after revealing 934 calls were made to its cruelty line on Christmas Day in 2018 - making it the busiest in five years.

In Merseyside, the charity received 823 calls about needy animals over the Christmas period last year.

Last December there were more than 61,000 calls coming through the charities cruelty line which is up by more than 5,000 the previous year.

Dermot Murphy, Chief Inspectorate Officer, said: “Our cruelty line received more than 900 calls on Christmas Day last year and our rescue officers are always out working through the festive period to help animals in need.

“Hospital staff will be working to provide veterinary care for injured and sick animals and our animal centre staff will be making sure the hundreds of pets and wild animals in our care over Christmas are well looked after.

“Rescue work doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas.

"We know that animals need our help all-year round and our officers are out in all weathers helping save pets from abuse and neglect, and rescuing wildlife who may be injured or in need of assistance.

"We are expecting to take in more than 10,000 animals this winter which means the officers, vets and animal care staff are braced for another busy festive period.

“We can’t do this on our own - we rely on our generous supporters to help the many animals who come into our care this Christmas in urgent need whether it is for veterinary care, medicine, food or a safe, comfortable and warm bed.

"We are asking animal lovers to Stock the Sleigh for the RSPCA and help us to care for these animals in desperate need this winter.”

There were more than 5,000 animals taken in over the festive period last year, including more than 2,100 cats and more than 1,000 dogs, as well as hundreds of wildlife.

Now the RSPCA are looking for donations to its Stock the Sleigh campaign to help the animals who come into their care over the festive period:

  • £7 could keep an animal warm with a soft and cosy blanket
  • £15 could give the gift of comfort - a warm blanket, treats and toys
  • £25 could give the gift of safety - it could help answer a phone call, provide a safe bed and food
  • £40 could give the gift of care - providing essential veterinary care and medicines

For more information on how to deliver vital supplies to thousands of abused, neglected and abandoned animals left out in the cold this Christmas, visit www.rspca.org.uk/giftofkindness and watch your virtual gift fill up our sleigh with a grateful wag from Sprout the dog.

Sprout, Tink and the other festive characters feature in the RSPCA’s Christmas sweatshirts: www.rspca.org.uk/christmasmerch