Animals get themselves up to all sorts - and nobody sees that more than the RSPCA’s team of rescuers.

This year the RSPCA received nearly 18,000 reported incidents to their emergency hotline in Wales out of the total of 281,390 incidents that were reported across the UK to the charity’s frontline teams.

Many of these incidents included helping lots of animals who got themselves into unusual situations.

One of the most surprising incidents happened in Flint, when George the puppy needed help after getting his teeth stuck on the bars of his crate.

Kate Atkins had been crate-training her 11-week-old Westie pup on March 15 when she heard him squealing and found he’d got his top jaw stuck on the bars. She called the fire service and RSPCA officers for help and Inspector Anthony Joynes attended.

He said: “George was in a real pickle. He was in a very uncomfortable position and his owner had had to hold him for 45 minutes while I rushed down from the Wirral to their home in Flint to help.” He used bolt-cutters to cut through the bars.

Owner Kate said: “Anthony managed to cut George out quite quickly and I gave him a big cuddle before taking him to the vet for a check-up. Thankfully, he hadn’t sustained any major injury, other than a few bruises, and I was able to settle him down when we got home, tired and a bit quiet.”

Of the 17,930 incidents that were reported to the RSPCA between January 1 and November 30, 2021, 757 were from Flintshire and 767 were from Wrexham, totalling 1,524 incidents.

The RSPCA is the only charity out on the frontline rescuing animals from all sorts of situations 365 days a year. To help rescuers be there for the animals in need this winter, please join the winter rescue by visiting www.rspca.org.uk/rescuexmas.