A heartbreaking 775 calls were made to the RSPCA’s cruelty line on Christmas Day alone last year – calls that led to rescues of pets like Freya, who was found starving and abandoned, locked in a flat.
The RSPCA is preparing for its busiest time of year as alarming new figures show a 23% rise in pets left abandoned and home alone during the festive season.
From 18 December 2023 to 2 January 2024, the charity received 25,230 reports to its cruelty line – an average of 158 calls per hour. This included a staggering 775 calls taken on Christmas Day itself.
Over the Christmas period, the charity dealt with 1,089 reported cases of pets abandoned in homes, up from 884 casesduring the same period in 2022/23. This sharp increase has left 660 dogs and 369 cats – often terrified, trapped, and starving – to fend for themselves.
Ian Briggs, RSPCA Chief Inspector, said:
“It is unimaginable that anyone could abandon a pet at any time of year, let alone Christmas. Last year we saw a 23% increase in animals abandoned in the home over the Christmas period – often while their owners went away celebrating the festive season without giving a thought for the care of their pets.”
Freya’s Story: Starved And Abandoned For Nine Days
One of those calls led to the rescue of Freya, a starving cat trapped in a filthy flat for nine days over Christmas, alongside her feline companion, Minnie.
An RSPCA inspector first visited the Greater Manchester property on Christmas Day after receiving a tip-off. Unable to gain entry, she placed seals on the door to monitor for any movement.
On a follow-up visit two days later, Inspector Rachel Whalley saw a cat desperately pawing at a gap under the door. Rachel recalled:
“I went to my van, retrieved two sachets of wet cat food, and managed to squeeze them under the gap. Both cats were ravenous, pawing at the sachets in desperation.”
With the help of Greater Manchester Police, entry was gained. A terrified Freya bolted into Rachel’s arms. Inside, Minnie was found sat among piles of rubbish, timid and severely underweight.
Rachel described the scene:
“The flat was strewn with clutter and hazards, unsafe for cats. There were empty food bowls, cat faeces on the floor, and overflowing litter trays.”
Both cats were rushed to the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital. Freya weighed just 1.1kg (a healthy weight is around 3.6-4.5kg). With special care, both cats recovered at the Warrington, St Helens, and Halton RSPCA branch.
A Happy Ending For Freya
Freya found a foster home with Helen Howlett (main photo above) in Warrington, Cheshire. Helen quickly fell in love with her, and Freya now enjoys a loving forever home.
Helen shared:
“Freya is now so loving and affectionate. Sometimes we wake up to her toys outside our room, like she’s asking us to play. She even climbs under the duvet and sleeps between us!
“She has brought so much joy to our lives – she’s loving, hilarious, and amazing company. We are so grateful to the RSPCA for rescuing her.”
Minnie, Freya’s black-and-white friend, also found a happy home.
The Ongoing Crisis
The RSPCA revealed a 30% rise in abandonment cases over the last three years, with financial pressures and the cost of living crisis cited as major factors. The festive season often sees a worsening of these trends as people struggle with higher bills and the additional expenses of Christmas.
Rachel added:
“Thanks to the public’s support, we can rescue animals like Freya and Minnie, rehabilitate them, and find them new homes. But to continue this life-saving work, we need your help.
“We can’t stop for Christmas. As long as any animal is suffering, we will keep going to reach and rescue them. Please join The Christmas Rescue and help our teams give these animals the urgent care and love they need.”
To support the RSPCA’s Christmas Rescue and save more animals like Freya, visit: rspca.org.uk/winterappeal