THE RSPCA is preparing to launch its Kindness at Christmas appeal this festive period, having received 870 calls about sick, neglected or abused animals across Worcestershire last December.

The animal welfare charity is bracing itself for 2,000 calls a day from throughout the UK – having taken 27 in Worcestershire last Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day alone.

The animal welfare charity expects to take in around 19,000 animals in need this December and January and desperately needs your help to care for them.

During December last year and January 2017, 8,642 incidents were reported to the RSPCA in the South West, including Worcestershire, with 276 of those happening across Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

During the same period, the charity received 118,799 calls nationwide – 1,916 calls a day – which equates to 79.8 calls an hour or 1.3 calls a minute.

Simon Osborne, RSPCA superintendent, said: “It’s a sad fact that every day at work throughout the year can be tough for our inspectors and animal welfare and collection officers, but winter really does come with its own challenges and issues.

“But we also saw so many acts of kindness by animal lovers, from the passer-by who rescued a shivering and sick puppy days before Christmas, to those who reported suffering animals to our cruelty hotline or volunteers caring for animals in our centres and branches.

“We are asking animal lovers across the country to show kindness this Christmas by supporting our winter appeal,” he added.

Visit rspca.org.uk/winterappeal for more information.