ANIMAL abandonments are on the up in Wrexham and Flintshire as the RSPCA issue a warning ahead of winter.

Incidents have soared to a shocking three-year high as the RSPCA has warned unwanted pets face a bleak winter - with incidents in Wales contributing to the crisis.

The animal welfare charity has released shocking new figures 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 percent rise in abandonment calls this year. It’s higher too than the number of reports received in 2021 (17,179) and 2022 (19,645).

In Wrexham, there has been a 40.5 per cent rise, from 53 incidents in 2020 to a predicted 74 in 2023.

While in Flintshire the number of abandonments is predicted to be 70 in 2023, up from 44 in 2020, a rise of 58.3 per cent. 

Earlier this year, the RSPCA launched an appeal after a Shih Tzu was abandoned in Shotton. The dog, estimated to be a year old was left on the driveway of a property in May.

Now the animal welfare charity says they are "desperately concerned" about the upcoming winter months and is asking supporters to Join the Christmas Rescue by donating to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them.

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.

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"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 Wales. 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.”