THERE has been a worrying increase in the number of pets being dumped.
Sheila Stewart, who runs Capricorn Animal Rescue, Padeswood, near Mold, believes it could be due to them being unwanted Christmas presents.
Mrs Stewart said the ages of the animals – about five or six months – indicated they were bought as gifts but dumped as they grew older.
The charity has also taken in a growing number of adult rabbits, which could be linked to people buying baby rabbits before Easter.
Mrs Stewart said: “These animals have grown up, they need a little bit of work and people can’t deal with them anymore.
“We’re seeing a lot of puppies and kittens being deserted.
“People always think ‘it doesn’t apply to us because we’re never going to do that’, but then they realise they can’t cope.”
Mrs Stewart said: “We have seen a worrying increase in animals coming in due to the recession and more coming in who need veterinary treatment as the families can’t pay for them so they leave them. Each year it’s getting worse and worse.”
Mrs Stewart has seen three crossbreed puppies coming through her doors recently and has also helped to treat a young cat left in a box last week.
The six month old tabby, which has been named Dandy, was left in a box in a field in Hawarden.
Mrs Stewart said: “In this freezing weather he wouldn’t have lasted long. He’s really beautiful. We want him to go to a family home because he’s such a loving little cat.”