Animal abandonments incidents have soared to a shocking three year high as the RSPCA warns unwanted pets face a bleak winter - with incidents in Somerset rising sharply compared with 2020.

The animal welfare charity has today (22 November) released shocking new stats that show abandonments have been spiraling amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Already this year, up to the end of October, the animal welfare charity has received 17,838 reports of abandoned animals across England and Wales - which, if such trends continue, would equate to 21,417 reports over 2023. This compares with 16,118 reports during the whole of 2020, meaning the RSPCA is on course to see an eye-watering 32.9% rise in abandonment calls this year. It's higher too than the number of reports received in 2021 (17,179) and 2022 (19,645).

And in Somerset the charity is on course to receive 295 reports of animal abandonment this year - marking an 26.2% rise on the number of reports received in the local community in 2020.

Dermot Murphy, who heads the RSPCA frontline rescue teams, said: "The combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis has created a perfect storm - and means we expect more animals than ever will need our help this year. "Abandonment calls to our emergency line are now at a three-year high, as we respond to an increasing number of animals being given up and dumped. "Behind these shocking statistics are thousands of vulnerable animals. Each one is a valuable life in urgent need of our help.

"We're desperately concerned about the coming winter months in Somerset. Abandonments have soared and many rescue centres are full to bursting, so we are facing an unprecedented winter crisis.

"Our rescue teams are set to be busier than ever this Christmas - so we need animal lovers to join the Christmas rescue and donate to help us be there for animals in desperate need as neglect and abandonment soars."

In April, a five-year-old injured German Shepherd was left tied to a gate outside an RSPCA animal rescue centre in Somerset.

Shockingly, CCTV spotted the dog being tied to the gates outside RSPCA Brent Knoll Animal Centre in Highbridge on Easter Sunday.

Rescue staff at the centre nicknamed the dog Bunny - because of the time of year she was abandoned. Although she was microchipped when dumped, the details on the chip were no longer accurate.

Thankfully, Bunny was later successfully rehomed.

Dermot added: "For nearly 200 years, the RSPCA has been working tirelessly to bring animals to safety and give them the expert treatment and compassion they deserve. "We'll continue to do so for as long as we're needed but we can't do that without the support of fellow animal lovers. Together, we could save more lives. "The support of the public helps neglected and abandoned animals in so many ways - from buying soft, warm bedding and nourishing food for an animal who's desperately cold and hungry, to funding vital vet care for an animal who's suffering and in pain." This year the RSPCA is asking supporters to Join the Christmas Rescue by donating to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them.