THE RSPCA are asking the public for gift donations to help animals in need this Christmas after 5,700 calls were made to their hotline in the South East last December.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) are asking people to help fill their virtual festive sleigh with gifts. The sleigh will provide support for animals who are neglected and abused over winter.

The appeal launched after an alarming number of calls were made to the RSPCA’s hotline last Monday, December 5.

The hotline, which deals with emergency calls received 784 calls that day and in Berkshire alone 479 calls were made.

Christ Sherwood, RSPCA Chief Executive said: “this Christmas we are asking people to stock the sleigh for the RSPCA and help us to care for the thousands of animals we know that, sadly, will continue to come through our doors this festive season.”

The sleigh can be packed with a range of donated items including medicines, beds and warm blankets. All of them are designed to ensure every animal gets the care and treatment they need to recover.

Mr Sherwood added:“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.”

The RSPCA are called out across the winter months to help animals who are left in freezing conditions and the donated gifts are vital for their recovery.

Members of the RSPCA were called to Whiteknights Lake, near the University of Reading, on Monday, November 19 this year.

Four puppies were found, two girls and two boys, discovered in a plastic bin liner by a passer-by who spotted them under a tree at around 10am.

Justine Hermon RSPCA animal welfare officer said: “The puppies are very lucky to have been found – at this age there is no way they would have survived on their own.”

During December last year, the RSPCA cared for nearly 5,600 animals in the South East and provided them with a warm bed and the support they needed to recover.

The gifts can be donated to the virtual sleigh by visiting www.rspca.org.uk/stockthesleigh