Abandoned animals need homes

A general rule not to house animals close to Christmas, plus the post-Christmas influx of unwanted pets leaves little room for festivities.

The phrase 'a dog is for life, not just for Christmas is well known but Barby believes it should be changed to 'an animal is for life, not just for Christmas . Seven dogs have been put on the books to be housed.

They were joined at the Freezeland Lane sanctuary by around ten cats, a Shetland pony and a sick fox, all of which need new homes.

Because 200 cats are housed at the sanctuary, busy times of year are hard to deal with. Barby said: "The situation is bad all year round, it s just everything seems sadder at Christmas."

When the sanctuary is full it relies on foster homes to take animals.

These are hard to find, and at present Barby Keel s only has two.

Foster families are paid expenses by the sanctuary until the animal can be given a permanent home.