An animal rescue centre in Garston has stressed the importance of not giving animals as gifts this Christmas.
The registered charity, Garston Animal Rescue, takes in abandoned animals before rehabilitating them and finding them a permanent home.
Trustee and founder of the organisation, Nancy Lindsay, cares for up to 70 cats at a time. She told JMU Journalism: “Before you get an animal you need to be prepared. Animals have needs… they grow, they take up space, they need food, veterinary care, they need care when you go away on holiday.
“People need to consider whether they have the time, energy, money and commitment to look after an animal for the rest of its life. Christmas is the worst possible time of the year for someone to take in a new animal. It is a very busy and stressful period, and so is definitely not the time to taken on a new commitment.”
YouTube: PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
The charity, which started in 1984 when it took in a mother cat and five new-born kittens from a bin in town, also reaches out to feral cats as it is part of a neuter, recover and release scheme in order to prevent many more unwanted kittens being born.
Cheap or free neutering may be provided for people on a low income, again to prevent many needless deaths as kittens are born when there are not enough homes for them all.