Abandoned at Christmas by Alison Stodolnic

We all know the Dogs Trust slogan: “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas”. But, despite the charity's ongoing campaign, people still give cute pets as Christmas presents without thinking through the long-term commitment and years of care that animals need.

At the end of December 2010, the RSPCA published hair-raisingly (or fur-raisingly) shocking figures showing how many unwanted pets had been dumped at Christmas time. They reported that around three animals were abandoned every hour, and they had received 329 new complaints of abandonment between 23 and 27 December. It had practically rained cats and dogs in local branches of the charity, especially Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Staffy Crosses.

Staff at Manchester and Cheshire Dogs' Home also see a big increase in abandoned dogs over Christmas time. According to Anna Stansfield, manager of the Warrington site, "it varies each year, but it usually goes up by at least 35%". Anna says that typically there is then a lull for a couple of months, and then another peak in around February or March when Christmas present puppies "are not as cute" as they once were. Over Christmas, the charity is so short of space that it runs a foster scheme whereby if a family is planning a quiet festive season - no big gatherings or noisy parties - they can help by looking after a dog for a few weeks until the mayhem of Christmas and the new year is over.

Manchester and Cheshire Dogs' Home was founded in 1893 and cares for 7,000 stray dogs every year at kennels in Warrington and Manchester. 95% of their dogs come off the streets. Usually a dog is picked up and brought in by a council dog warden, scanned for an identity microchip, vaccinated, wormed and flea-treated. Sometimes people bring in an unwanted dog, or leave it chained to some railings, or just set it free to roam the streets alone and uncared for. After 7 days, if an owner hasn't claimed a dog, it is made available for adoption; at any one time around 200 dogs are in need of a new home.

It is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to be cruel to an animal. Local councils, animal health officers and the police have the power to enforce this law.

If you are worried about the mistreatment or abandonment of an animal this Christmas - or at any time - call the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.

For more information go to dogshome.net, rspca.org.uk and the dogstrust.org.uk 

Of course most of us are devoted carers when it comes to our family pets, and we want them to have a happy Christmas too! But as tempting as it is to put tinsel around their necks and feed them After Eights, the best thing we can do for our pets is stick to their normal diets and routines. Leftover party foods that animals aren't used to might upset their stomachs - beware dogs react particularly badly to chocolate, grapes and raisons - and pets can easily chew and choke on small toys and decorations lying around the place.