It is a day when families come together — and that includes the family pet.
But some animals will be facing Christmas alone this year, as they await rehoming from the Scottish SPCA’s centre for Tayside and Fife.
They may not be partridges, swans, turtles, hens or calling birds, but spare a thought for the rabbits, dogs, cats and a snake who will spend the holiday in Petterden Animal Shelter.
The centre handled 886 animals between November 2014 and November 2015.
Claire Tait, communications officer for the Scottish SPCA, said the figure was similar to that of the previous year.
Puppies and kittens currently at Petterden will be spending the holiday without a family, as the centre does not rehome any of its younger residents between December 19 and January 3.
This is to reduce the risk of people taking on pets to give them away as presents. Animals can still be reserved and collected in January.
Simon the corn snake is one of the centre’s more exotic guests, having been taken in after he was found abandoned.
Snakes need regular handling to keep them used to humans and a large vivarium to grow and move in. The SSPCA said that rabbits are fast becoming the most abused and neglected animal in Scotland — and there are several at the centre waiting to be rehomed.
Ivy, Holly, Bambi, Grace, Thumper, Mrs Nibbles and Marley are waiting to find permanent new homes.
Blaise, Max and Dyna are dogs, all aged two years old, who are also looking for a new home.
Meanwhile, Ted is currently the only cat at the centre looking for a new place to live.
Centre manager Elliot Hay said: “We strongly advise people not to buy pets as Christmas presents.
“Year on year, this results in many animals being abandoned once the novelty has worn off.
“It’s very important for us to find loving owners for these pets so we can take in even more animals in need of our help.
“It’s such a shame to see so many pets living at our centre in Petterden, as all animals deserve to be part of a caring family.
“We are open to the public every day from 10am to 4pm and people are welcome to pop in to see us over the festive period if they think they could offer one of our animals a second chance.”
Staffordshire bull terrier-cross Dyna is looking for a new home.
Ted the cat is just one of the animals being cared for at the Scottish SPCA centre at Petterden over the festive period.