RSPCA launches Stock the Sleigh after busy festive period in 2017

The charity, which received more than 3,800 calls about animals in distress in the South West of England as a whole last year, is using its festive appeal to ask for help providing vital care for neglected, abused and suffering animals.

Its campaign, called 'Stock the Sleigh', is asking if people can give gifts of care, safety and comfort to desperate animals by stocking the RSPCA's virtual sleigh.

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Chris Sherwood, RSPCA Chief Executive, said: “We would not be able to help the thousands of animals we rescue, rehome and rehabilitate every Christmas without the public’s generous support. "What people perhaps don’t realise is that after each animal is brought to warmth and safety, they sometimes face weeks and months of vital care, whether that is someone to hand-rear a kitten through the night, vital surgery for an abused dog, rehabilitation for an injured gull, or simply a warm bed and food for a neglected or abandoned animal.

"This Christmas we are asking people to Stock the Sleigh for the RSPCA, and help us to care for the thousands of animals we know that, sadly, will continue to come through our doors this festive season."

Many animals spend weeks, months, and sometimes years in the care of the RSPCA getting vet treatment, rehabilitation, training, and food, as well as anything else they need, and it costs more than £750,000 on average to run an animal centre for a year.

Here are a few of the things you can do to help the animals in care:

• £3 for a toy for a pet

• £6 to help feed a dog for a week over Christmas

• £7 for a warm blanket for the animals

• £12 to provide a warm blanket, treats and a toy

• £24.50 to help answer and respond to calls about an animal in distress and provide a safe bed

• £48 could help pay for veterinary care, hydration and medicines

To donate, go to rspca.org.uk/stockthesleigh