SHOCKING incidents of animal abuse have been found by RSPCA inspectors over the festive period.

Officers rescued an unconscious dog lying in the central reservation of a dual carriageway and a rabbit, whose ears are feared to have been cut off, was left by the roadside in a taped-up cardboard box.

RSPCA branch secretary for Worcestershire, Pam Booker, said that each year the situation gets worse.

"People can be very callous and think that animals are disposable," she said.

"They are taking on more and more animals and not thinking about the responsibility.

"When they can't cope they just dump them in a box somewhere."

Polly, an 18-month-old dog, was discovered unconscious in the central reservation of the A449, near Hindlip, Worcester, three days after Christmas.

Inspectors believe that she was driven there, dumped and was then hit by a passing car.

It was touch and go as to whether she would survive, but after medical treatment to an eye injury and time to recover from the shock, she is finally on the mend.

Mrs Booker said: "This is not the sort of place where a dog would be unless it had been dumped out of a car.

"We didn't think she would survive, but it's amazing what they can come back from.

"She is such as sweet little creature and very friendly."

Polly has had a tough start in life and the RSPCA wants to find her a loving new home. The case highlights why animal charities urge people to think very carefully before buying a pet for Christmas. Cats Dotty and Coral were discovered in a box in the city centre.

Dotty has recently had kittens, but there was no sign of them where they were found, and Mrs Booker believes that they might have been killed.

She said that they would certainly not have survived without their mother.

The cats have been through such an ordeal that the RSPCA would like them to be re-homed together.

Other shocking finds include the rabbit, who was found with no ears. Inspectors were not certain if they had been hacked off but have not ruled it out.

The bunny was discovered next to a dead guinea pig in a box by a road near Droitwich.

There have been many other cases of animals being dumped in boxes, including a rabbit found by the side of a canal. For information about re-homing any of these pets contact the RSPCA on 01905 841354.