RSPCA's Christmas appeal as charity braces for surge of abandoned and neglected animals

The RSPCA has launched a Christmas appeal for help as the charity braces for a surge of abandoned and neglected animals after pet ownership soared during lockdown.

Last December, the RSPCA received one call every minute, one report of an abandoned animal every hour, and took 70 rescue animals into RSPCA care every day.

During the pandemic, pet ownership surged with estimates of more than 3.2m people taking on new pets.

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