Speaking about the ad, RSPCA superintendent Simon Osborne told Get Surrey that the season genuinely still brings a ridiculous amount of abandoned dogs to the charity’s door, despite the Christmas message having been hammered home for years.

“It’s a sad fact that every day at work throughout the year can be tough for our inspectors and animal welfare and collection officers, but winter really does come with its own challenges and issues.

“In fact, we expect to take in somewhere in the region of 19,000 animals this winter alone.”

He added: “During the festive season alone last year we rescued more than 25,000 animals, many of whom had been cruelly abandoned, injured or abused.

“But we also saw so many acts of kindness by animal lovers, from the passer-by who rescued a shivering and sick puppy days before Christmas, to those who reported suffering animals to our cruelty hotline, or volunteers caring for animals in our centres and branches.

“We are asking animal lovers across the country to show kindness this Christmas by supporting our winter appeal.”

Animal lovers, prepare to shed a tear over the RSPCA Christmas ad