The RSPCA is begging people not to abandon their pets this Christmas as it fears a 'winter crisis' fuelled by cost of living pressures will leave homes struggling to hold onto their animals.

Rescue teams have already this year experienced a 25% leap in the number of abandonment cases - rising to more than 13,000 incidents in England and Wales compared to just over 10,000 in 2021.

The welfare charity is concerned animals are heading for a winter crisis as the numbers of pets being abandoned or neglected continues to rise as centres and shelters struggle to manage the growing numbers arriving at their doors requiring attention.

Dermot Murphy, who heads RSPCA frontline rescue teams, explained: "We’re extremely sympathetic to anyone struggling with rising costs at this difficult time but we’re begging people not to dump their pets. It is never the answer. Please, please ask for help.

"We’ve sadly seen a shocking rise in the number of incidents of animal abandonment and neglect our rescuers are dealing with. My fear is that we’ll see increasing cases of animals neglected and abandoned this Christmas as families struggle with soaring bills. We are doing what we can to help, especially trying to keep pets in loving homes, but we are struggling too. Our branches and centres are full to bursting and we have hundreds of pets waiting to get in."

Investigations by the charity into the potential scale of the issues have revealed around 19% of all pet owners are worried about being able to sufficiently feed their animals with 28% concerned about the rising cost of caring for an animal, including vet bills, while facing other unprecedented pressures on their outgoings.

A recent decline in puppy sales has also - say inspectors - led to some unscrupulous breeders also now opting to dump dogs which they have been left because no one wants them or can afford to buy them.

Earlier this month three cockapoo puppies were found dumped in a food waste bin at Leybourne Lakes near Maidstone, which the RSPCA suspects had failed to sell. Two of the youngsters remain in the care of the charity but the third puppy sadly died.

Six puppies were also found dumped and shivering in January on the side of the road near Canterbury, which inspectors believe may have been abandoned by breeders who deemed they'd passed 'their cute stage'. One of the dogs has since started training to become a police sniffer dog.

Last winter, between November 2021 and February this year, the RSPCA received 251,431 calls to its emergency helpline - more than 2,000 a day or close to 90 an hour. Among them were 637 calls about abandonment and suspected neglect in Kent.

Struggling owners may be able to seek support from food banks that are offering a pet food service while a dedicated cost of living support line is also now being run by the RSPCA together with practical help and advice that is available through its website.

But the charity, which has this week launched its own Christmas campaign to try and raise vital extra funds, says it too is facing its own challenges because of rising costs.

Dermot added: "All of this means we are facing a perfect storm of animal suffering this Christmas and animals risk paying the ultimate price of this crisis.

"Growing numbers of pets are hungry, sick, neglected – and running out of time. That’s why it’s vital that our animal rescue teams can be on the road and ready to rescue animals this winter."