For the second year running - and for a variety of different reasons - the world's largest animal welfare charity rescued nearly 150 thousand wild, exotic, farm and domestic animals from dangerous and distressing situations across England and Wales.

Of these, almost 30,000 rescues took place in the East of England.

The East region rescue figures include a 44 per cent increase in the number of animals rescued because they were callously abandoned by their owners - from 986 in 2006 to 1,417 in 2007.

Cats made up 581 of these abandonments, outnumbering dogs by 312.

Typical examples of how animals were abandoned* in 2007 include:

A black and tan terrier found dumped in a removal van with a badly injured leg in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire

15 guinea pigs, including 12 babies, found dumped in a field in Southwell, Nottinghamshire.

A cat thrown from a car in a lay-by in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

And just four months into 2008, the Society in the East region has already rescued 26,773 animals, 2,621 of which had been abandoned.

These include a skinny six-month-old Boxer dog left on a road in Netherfield, Nottinghamshire.

This news comes at the start of RSPCA Week (28 April – 4 May) – the Society's largest annual fundraising and awareness raising push.

Commenting on the figures Simon Parker, acting superintendent for the RSPCA in the East, said: "The RSPCA works around the clock to rescue thousands of animals every year from a wide range of distressing situations and 2007 was no exception.

"From birds injured by oil spills to cattle suffering from foot and mouth disease, and cats in road traffic accidents to dogs simply abandoned by their owners, the RSPCA was on hand to help all types of animals whatever the emergency."

They have also been working hard into 2008, for example rescuing a rabbit dumped in box in Derby on January 13.

The rabbit had been left in a cardboard box and had wounds on his front and hind left feet, neck and rear. The wounds were several weeks old and had not been treated.

RSPCA inspector Mick Darling took the bunny to a nearby veterinary surgery for treatment. He said: "We don't know what caused the rabbit's injuries, but to just leave him without veterinary care and abandon him is unacceptable and we are very keen to find out where he came from.

Throughout RSPCA Week staff and volunteers are holding events to raise much-needed cash for the Society's 171 branches across England and Wales, and collections are taking place in Tesco stores.

To find out more about the week and how you can help visit www.rspcaweek.org.uk.