The Scottish SPCA Aberdeen Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre is appealing to pet owners to think twice before taking on the responsibility for a new family pet.
Scottish SPCA manager Graeme Innes revealed that in the weeks and months after Christmas, centres are often overwhelmed by requests to take in puppies kittens “dumped like rubbish one the novelty has worn off”.
He said: “Every year in the lead up to Christmas we stress that animals should never be bought on a whim or given as surprise presents but some people aren’t getting the message.
“Every January we take in hundreds of animals and it is possible some of these animals had been bought for Christmas. For that reason we are asking people to consider whether they have the time and financial resources to be able to properly care for an animal for life.”
He added: “Our message is simple, a pet is a lifelong commitment and not a present which can be given at Christmas and then forgotten about soon afterwards.”
In one case, a spaniel setter cross named Winter was left for dead on a remote country road on Christmas Day in 2011.
Fortunately, the charity was able to find a new home for ten-year-old Winter.
Senior Inspector Billy Linton said: “Whoever abandoned Winter couldn’t have cared whether he lived or died.
“He was very lucky someone found him and called us because he could just as easily have run off or been knocked down by a car and killed.”
This year, in an attempt to reduce the chances of people taking on pets at a whim for Christmas time, the charity will stop rehoming efforts for baby animals from December 19 to January 3.
Over this festive period the Society’s Rescue and Rehoming centres will be closed to members of the public on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2 January 2017.
If people would like to donate to the Scottish SPCA this Christmas they can call the charity’s helpline on 03000 999 999 or visit
https://www.scottishspca.org
.