This is Derbyshire --The RSPCA in Derby is struggling to cope with an influx of abandoned animals and may be unable to take on any more pets. Ella Rhodes reports.
THE RSPCA's customer care manager Malcolm Hall has his hands very full at the moment.
He has eight puppies which were dumped in a Derby park and have just arrived at the centre in Abbey Street.
"This sort of thing is becoming more and more common," he says, as the eight Staffordshire bull terrier cross-breeds seek attention in two large cages behind him.
"These dogs were bought in by a woman who said she had found them in a box on Alvaston park. They were really smelly when they came in, so we've bathed them.
"But they're not in bad condition at all. But the fact they're Staffordshire terrier-crosses makes it much more difficult to rehome them – they're top of our list of animals which are left here."
Malcolm says he has seen an increase, almost double, of the number of dogs which had been abandoned at the animal rescue centre over the past year.
He says he fears that, with Christmas approaching, the problem will become much worse and they may get to the stage where they are unable to take in any more animals.
He says: "It's really getting quite desperate. Animals are just being abandoned and forgotten about. We need help."
The centre, which rehomes 600 animals per year, is entirely self-funded and relies on public donations, as well as volunteers, to function.
It costs about £6,000 per week to keep it operating.
Malcolm says media reports of vicious dogs biting children have not helped the situation. He said: "There have been stories in the past about dogs hurting children.
"But if owners were more responsible the problem wouldn't be as bad."
Malcolm says he is hopeful for the future of the eight puppies: "I'm hoping we don't have a problem finding them homes. But we want to get responsible homes for them.
"People don't realise that puppies are a real handful. They're lovely to look at but they take an awful lot of work."
Ginny, a rottweiler-cross, was bought into the centre and left by a man who said he could no longer look after her.
Malcolm says the two-year-old dog, who has bags of personality, would be perfect for an energetic family.
He says: "The chap who came round with her had no intention of taking her back. But she's a lovely dog.
"She'd suit an energetic family with older children with experience of the breed so they know about their different characteristics.
"She's a lovely, lively dog."
Malcolm says there are many reasons why people say they need a pet rehoming by the centre – "relationship breakdowns, health problems, moving into different accommodation.
"Some people just can't afford to have a pet any more.
"Some will have a dog for five or six years and then decide they don't want it any more.
"It's like with Ginny, she's a really well-balanced dog, she just needs a bit of training. People just don't realise what they're taking on.
"They need walking, exercise, food, micro-chipping, vaccinations and neutering."
Holly, a three-year-old pedigree dogue de Bordeaux, is another sad story to be brought in to the RSPCA.
Malcolm says: "A lady came in and said she couldn't keep her any more for health reasons and needed to put herself first.
"She said she was having problems walking her and we offered her some help.
"But she just left the dog in reception."
Malcolm says these situations can be dangerous for staff at the centre: "It puts us in a risky position.
"We don't know the dog and this breed are very big and powerful and Holly was quite scared when she was left here.
"We had to get her on to a lead and take her into a kennel. Luckily she proved to be a lovely, sweet-natured dog."
If you would like to re home or foster any of the animals at the centre, call Derby 344620. Reported by This is 22 hours ago.