RSPCA braces itself for another busy Christmas

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The RSPCA is preparing for another busy Christmas as staff on the frontline will continue to help animals while most people will still be opening their presents.

Last year the RSPCA took more than 4,300 calls from the public between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. This year is expected to be just as busy for the staff and volunteers in RSPCA animal centres, vets and nurses in animal hospitals and inspectors out on the road.

Inspector Tony Woodley explains that while Christmas is a special time for everyone, animal welfare remains the RSPCA’s top priority just as much as it does every other day of the year.

“Christmas is a very busy time for the RSPCA, for its officers on the frontline and in fact for our animal hospitals and wildlife centres. But it is only busy because we are busy every day of the year,” said Mr Woodley.

“Our officers are out there 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Our animal hospitals and staff in our wildlife centres are the same, so Christmas is pretty much like any other day for the RSPCA.

“We provide the same service for animals across the country, around the clock, be it July, August, January or in fact Christmas Day.

“It is special for lots of people, but it is not special for the animals and we need to be there for them.”

Christmas Day is also business as usual for staff at the RSPCA’s National Control Centre where they take emergency calls from members of the public.

Incidents reported to them last year included everything from a stray parrot to horses that had escaped onto a school field.