THE number of animals abandoned in West Yorkshire rose by more than a quarter last winter, new figures show.

Statistics from the RSPCA show it received 4,630 abandonment report calls in England and Wales last winter, compared to 3,071 in 2020-21.

In West Yorkshire, 1,172 pets were abandoned last winter, up 27 per cent from 923 in 2020-21.

RSPCA chief inspector Ian Briggs described the figures as "shocking".

He added: "Our rescuers are regularly coming across dogs in poor health, collapsed and left in isolated spots to suffer a lingering death; sick kittens discarded in cardboard boxes who are lucky to be found alive; or pet rabbits dumped in the wild with little chance of survival against predators.

"Sadly we expect the trend will continue as more pet owners face financial hardship."

Mr Briggs said financial pressures associated with the cost of living crisis had forced some people to move out of their homes, which has resulted in an increasing number of pets left behind and locked in empty properties.

He added: "Heartbreakingly they are unable to survive for long in their own filth - with no food or water, no one to care for them and no idea if anyone will come to help them."