The RSPCA in Cornwall is braced for nearly a thousand calls around this festive season as it launches its Kindness at Christmas Appeal to help care for abused, neglected and sick animals.

In Cornwall, 897 calls about sick, neglected or abused animals were received between December 1 and December 31, 2016.

There were 23 calls in Cornwall on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day alone. 

The animal welfare charity expects to take in around 19,000 animals in need this December and January.

RSPCA superintendent Simon Osborne said: ‘It’s a sad fact that every day at work throughout the year can be tough for our inspectors and animal welfare and collection officers, but winter really does come with its own challenges and issues.

‘In fact, we expect to take in somewhere in the region of 19,000 animals this winter alone.

‘During the festive season alone last year, we rescued over 25,000 animals, many of whom had been cruelly abandoned, injured or abused.

‘But we also saw so many acts of kindness by animal lovers, from the passer-by who rescued a shivering and sick puppy days before Christmas, to those who reported suffering animals to our cruelty hotline or volunteers caring for animals in our centres and branches.

‘We are asking animal lovers across the country to show kindness this Christmas by supporting our winter appeal.’