ANIMAL lovers are being asked to ‘Stock the Sleigh’ to support the RSPCA during the festive season, following hundreds of calls about needy animals in Dorset.

The charity received more than 450 calls during the festive period last year (December 1 to 31) about animals in distress in the county, and the charity is launching an appeal to help provide vital care for neglected, abused and suffering animals.

The RSPCA is urging people to donate in order for them to buy toys, food, warm blankets, beds and veterinary care for the thousands of animals it is anticipated they will rescue.

Last December, the charity received 3,804 calls in the south west – 457 of which were from Dorset – to its 24-hour cruelty hotline and took in nearly 5,500 animals, as well as continuing to look after thousands of animals already in their care.

On Christmas day, the RSPCA West Hatch centre in Somerset looked after 146 pets, as well as numerous wild animals, providing food, warmth and care.

This year, the charity’s inspectors will be out 24/7 rescuing animals from pets to wildlife in all weathers.

It costs more than £750,000 on average to run an animal centre for the year and many animals spend weeks, months and sometimes years in the care of the RSPCA, receiving vet treatment, rehabilitation, food and training, which can only be done with support from the public.

Donating £3 can pay for a toy, £6 would help feed a dog for a week, £7 could give an animal a warm blanket, £12 would provide a warm blanket, treats and a toy, £24.50 would enable the RSPCA to respond to a call about an animal in distress and a safe bed, and £48 could help pay for veterinary care, hydration and medicines.

Donations can be made to ‘Stock the Sleigh’ at www.rspca.org.uk/stockthesleigh

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.

“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 known that, sadly, will continue to come through our doors this festive season.”