The RSPCA has released a statement appealing for pet owners to act more responsibly after a recent spate of abandonment and mistreatment cases.
A total of 359 unwanted animals have been turned over to the organisation in the first three weeks of December, as the charity now seeks new homes for abandoned and rescued pets across the country.
RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant says the run up to Christmas has been "the worst in living memory" in terms of the number of pets needing care, but insists the organisation will be "working round the clock" through the holiday period to provide a better life for the helpless animals.
The PDSA has also noticed an increase in the amount of pets being rescued, and has recently confirmed that three more cats were found abandoned in a box outside the Merton animal hospital in London.
Staff at the clinic named the trio Mistletoe, Holly and Ivy in an attempt to add some festive cheer to their lives, and are pleased to announce that Mistletoe has already found a loving new home.
