The RSPCA is braced for more 2,000 calls per day over the festive period after more than 7,000 incidents were reported last year.
During December 2016 and January 2017, 7,384 incidents were reported to animal welfare charity RSPCA in the East Midlands.
180 happened across Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day last year.
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.”
New figures from the RSPCA show that during the same period, the charity received 118,799 calls nationwide – 1,916 calls a day.
19,000 animals in need are expected to be taken in this December and January.
The RSPCA has launched its Kindness at Christmas Appeal to help care for abused, neglected and sick animals.
