The RSPCA has launched its 2018 Christmas appeal asking animal lovers to help ‘Stock the Sleigh’ with vital items to make the festive season happy, healthy and safe for thousands of animals.
Last year during the festive season (1st-31st December), the charity received 5,784 calls in the South East to its 24-hour cruelty hotline with concerns about animals in distress. There were 121 calls made on the Isle of Wight.
During December, the RSPCA also took in nearly 5,500 animals and gave them a warm bed, food, veterinary care and the care and attention they desperately needed, as well as continuing to look after thousands of animals already in their care.
This year, the charity’s inspectors will be out 24/7 rescuing animals from pets to livestock to wildlife in all weathers but for many animals brought to safety it is just the start of a long road to recovery and a new life.
Many animals spend weeks, months, and sometimes years in the RSPCA’s care getting vet treatment, rehabilitation, training, socialisation, food, warmth, and anything else they need to go on to live a happy healthy life but the charity can only do that with generous support from the public.
Here are a few of the things you can do to help the animals in the care of the RSPCA:
- £3 can pay for a toy for a pet
- £6 would help feed a dog for a week over Christmas
- £7 could give the gift of comfort help keep animals cosy with a warm blanket
- £12 could give a gift of comfort to help provide a warm blanket, tasty treats and a toy
- £24.50 could give a gift of safety to help answer and respond to call about an animal in distress and provide a safe bed
- £48 could give a gift of care to help pay for veterinary care, hydration and medicines
RSPCA Chief Executive Chris Sherwood 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.
Article continues below this advertisement “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.”
To donate to the RSPCA’s Stock the Sleigh campaign, visit www.rpsca.org.uk/stockthesleigh.
