The shocking number of animals abandoned in Cheshire last summer

The RSPCA has published a report into what they are calling a 'summer abandonment crisis' with an overall 85% hike in reports about dumped animals in the summer across the UK year on year.

Throughout June, July and August last year the RSPCA received a staggering 23,673 calls about dumped animals and the welfare charity are now expecting to see another huge rise this summer.

In most cases abandoned pets are dumped in boxes, thrown in bins or left on the side of roads.

RSPCA’s chief inspectorate officer Dermot Murphy said: “Sadly, we see a dramatic increase in the number of animals abandoned in the summer.

"From unwanted newborn kittens and puppies dumped in boxes and bins, exotic pets cast aside or horses abandoned in someone else’s field, dumped like rubbish.

“There is never an excuse to abandon an animal in this way and we would urge anyone who is struggling to cope with their pets to contact us or other charities for help.

"Our pets are sentient beings and great companions who rely on us for their health and happiness so dumping them like an old mobile phone or a piece of rubbish should never be the answer.

“The peak in animals being abandoned in the summer puts a massive strain on our inspectors, animal centres and branches who are left picking up the pieces when an animal is dumped.”

The charity are unsure why the figures rise so dramatically during the warmer months but suggest it may be that abandoned animals are more visible when people are out and about.

It costs the RSPCA nearly £30,000 to run an animal centre, providing vet care, food, toys and comfort to needy animals, every month.

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