据路透社12月20日报道，英国皇家防止虐待动物协会（RSPCA）在12月20日发布的年度报告中，提醒人们不要将动物做为圣诞礼物相互馈赠，因为该国不少公民在圣诞节期间会以宠物与自己家里的新沙发或地毯不相匹配为由而将它们无情抛弃。

    按照RSPCA的说法，在英国，每年圣诞节前后被该机构巡查人员捡拾到的惨遭主人遗弃的宠物的数量都会大量增加，目前它在全英各地的分支机构均已做好了收留这些“弃儿”的准备工作。这家慈善机构表示，在去年12月23日到今年1月6日期间，他们共受理了530起关于遗弃动物的投诉，同时接纳了大量无家可归的宠物。主人们遗弃宠物的理由主要是：“我的猫看上去与我新买的地毯很不协调”、“我的狗跟家里的新沙发一点也不匹配”、“我养的小猫不太愿意和孩子们一起玩耍”、“这只母狗在摇动尾巴时弄疼了我的腿”等。

    该机构的首席兽医顾问蒂姆·迈尔斯表示：“通过这里我们列举的借口可以看到，一部分人对于拥有宠物时所应具备的责任感缺乏最起码的了解。”“RSPCA一直敦促那些收养宠物的人仔细想想自己这一举动所具有的种种含义，以及他们需要付出多少情感、时间和金钱，才能确保爱宠安度余生”。该机构表示，仅在今年12月份的头12天里，他们便已接到了492个关于被遗弃动物的投诉电话。

    除了遭遗弃之外，宠物在圣诞节期间还会面临其它一些潜在问题：“不熟悉的来客，兴奋过度的孩子，房间内陌生的装饰品，家庭聚会中发出的噪音，烟花爆竹、气球以及家庭成员间的争吵，当原本熟悉的环境出现这些新情况时，即使是那些最镇静的动物也会变得焦躁不安起来”。

    Britons have abandoned their pets because they didn't match new sofas or carpets, the RSPCA said on Tuesday as it issued its annual warning that animals should not be given as Christmas presents.

    The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said its centres across the country were bracing themselves to take in a crop of abandoned pets picked up by its inspectors in the run-up to and aftermath of Christmas.

    Last year the charity said it investigated 530 complaints of animals being abandoned between December 23 and January 6 whilst it also took in numerous pets no longer wanted by their owners.

    It said the reasons given included: "My cat doesn't match my new carpet"; "My dog doesn't match the new sofa"; "Our kitten isn't playful enough with our children"; and "She hurts my legs when she wags her tail".

    "Some of the excuses we've highlighted show a complete lack of understanding about the responsibilities of owning an animal," said Tim Miles, the RSPCA's chief veterinary adviser.

    "The RSPCA always urges that anyone taking on a pet should seriously consider the implications and the commitment, time and finances needed to care for that pet for the rest of its life."

    The charity said in the first 12 days of December it had already received 492 calls relating to abandoned animals.

    It also warned that Christmas brought other potential problems for pets.

    "Unfamiliar guests, excited children, strange decorations, noise from party poppers, fireworks or balloons and family disputes can often make the most settled animals ill at ease in their usually familiar surroundings," Miles said.