More than 700 animals have been found dumped in Kent in the past three years alone.

Callous owners abandoned their unwanted or sick pets - many of which were left for dead - a total of 731 times between 2013 and 2015.

These include a blind springer spaniel found tied to a pallet of bricks in Maidstone, a sick and starving boxer dumped at a disused water plant in Snodland, and a family of cats left behind a toilet block in Tonbridge.

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A total of 295 animals were found dumped in Kent in 2013, and 279 in 2014. The number dropped to 157 last year - three a week.

In England and Wales, the RSPCA is called to help an average of one abandoned animal every hour - a figure which spikes during July, August and September.

The charity is now bracing itself for another summertime influx.

RSPCA Supt Simon Osborne said: "People often think that Christmas is the time we see the most abandoned animals - but it is actually the summer.

"Every day our inspectors face cases where animals have been left abandoned in fields, dumped in boxes, left for dead at the side of roads and even left outside our animal centres and hospitals.

"It is just heartbreaking. These poor animals are often just dumped without a care for their welfare or what might happen to them."

One potential reason for the summer peak is thought to be holidaymakers struggling to find care for their pets while they are away.

Supt Osborne continued: "We will never know why these animals are just discarded like rubbish. It could be for any number of reasons.

"Whether it is the fact that more pets are abandoned in the summer because the novelty of their Christmas present pet has worn off by the summer, they don’t want the responsibility of finding someone to look after their pet while they are away on holiday or whether more pets are found dumped because of the longer daylight hours we will never know. It could be any number of reasons.

"All we know is that there is a real peak in the number of abandonments in the summer months - July in particular - and it is animal welfare charities like us at the RSPCA that are left to pick up the pieces. There is a huge strain on our resources at this time of year because of this.

"Many abandoned animals that are rescued by the RSPCA are very badly neglected and poorly so need urgent vet care and often hospital treatment."

Simon added: "When people take on a new pet - whatever that animal may be they do need to research it, make sure it will suit their lifestyle and that they will be able to provide for it for the entirety of its life - however long that may be."

For more information and to donate, visit the RSPCA website.