ANIMAL rescue centres across northern Lincolnshire say the number of pets being abandoned is rising as the tough economic climate continues to bite.
With the impact of Government welfare reforms now kicking in, rescue centres are being inundated with unwanted pets people can no longer afford to keep.
Bill Walker, who has run Walker's Kennels at Grainthorpe, for 30 years, said: "The situation has definitely got worse over the past couple of years.
"People just can't afford to keep their pets, so they abandon them.
"We're also finding more animals are coming to us in a poor condition because their owners obviously haven't been able to afford the vet bills."
Laura Morrell, of Ark Animal Rescue And Retirement Home, said that the introduction of the "bedroom tax" – where people have their benefits reduced for any unused bedrooms – has forced many families to give up their pets.
She said: "We had one woman who was forced to move from her house into a flat and she had to give up her dog because of the bedroom tax.
"It left her with £50 a week to live on, so she just couldn't afford her dog.
"We're finding that most animals that come to us now haven't had worm or flea treatments because their owners have barely been able to afford to feed them.
Figures from the Blue Cross, which has a branch in Nelson Street, Grimsby, reveal there were 2,124 abandoned pets taken to its rehoming centres nationwide in 2012, compared to 676 in 2010.
That is an increase of more than 200 per cent.
Grimsby's Blue Cross animal hospital treats the pets of owners who are on means-tested benefits.
Chief veterinary surgeon at the hospital Susan Knox said: "Sadly, we do treat animals that are brought in sick or injured after being found straying or abandoned.
"We would ask pet owners who may be struggling to cope to get in touch with an animal charity like Blue Cross for help and never to just abandon a pet to fend for themselves."
Staff from The Ark Animal Rescue & Retirement Home introduce us to Brin, the centre's dog of the month: Brin isn't at all happy in kennels so, although he's only been with us about seven weeks, we really want to find him a home. He's a five-year-old male lurcher and is a distinctive light brindle colour with grey and peach highlights. He's been a much loved dog and has had to come in as his owner is suffering ill-health and can no longer give him the care he needs. He's neutered and fully vaccinated, his booster not being due till September of this year. He eats dry complete food, but not with beef or chicken as he has a sensitive tummy and these upset him. He's always been fit and well but now we're struggling to keep his weight on due to his depression in kennels. Brin was described by his former owner as a lovely playful boy. He loves balls and will chase and retrieve as long as you're willing to play with him. Staff and dog walkers play with him in the exercise run to try and take his mind of his situation and he's a different dog out there.Give him his ball and the fun he needs and he flies around without a care in the world, but try to return him to his kennel and poor Brin instantly starts to cry. He's not a dog that likes too much cuddling though as he finds this threatening. He's never been known to show any aggression to people and has been brought up with children now aged 11 and 5 years. He's always been good with them but does get very playful and bounce around so care should be taken with small children. He's lived with another smaller dog and tended to be the dominant one. He needs introducing carefully to bigger dogs and those when out and is ok with them if they're ok with him. He is however a real danger to cats and has actually killed one so must live in a home without any cats, or many in the neighbourhood and kept under close control when anywhere that cats are likely to be. The same will be the case with small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters etc. Brin is a sensitive boy as he has a few fears such as fireworks, loud noises, spray bottles and toy guns. Neither is he very brave at the vets and needs to wear a muzzle when having an injection – a dog with a needle phobia, bless him! He's house-trained and can safely be left for a few hours and isn't a good traveller; it obviously stresses him because he pants and will cry a bit. He walks beautifully on the lead with our dog walkers and recalls well but care must be taken if there are distractions when he'll lose concentration. In fact, he always wears a muzzle at the Ark and is only let off the lead in the exercise run to prevent any such distractions being a problem. Brin must be missing his home comforts and human company and all the love he had in his former home. He used to sleep on his owner's bed so has been used to always being close by and life in kennels is really upsetting him. We often hear him crying in his kennel and he looks and sounds a pathetically unhappy boy. We so badly want to find this lovely dog what he needs more than anything else in the world, a loving home and some company. He'll happily live with children, especially if they'll play ball with him and would prefer to be an only pet, but must be in a cat-free environment. Can you put a stop to Brin's misery and give him the love he's craving? If you can give Brin a home, call 01507 358140.
