THIS abandoned dog - like 22 others all from the Lancaster and Morecambe area - will have to be killed in a matter of days because there's no room for her or any of the others.

The dog kennels at Heysham and at Animal Care in Lancaster are full to bursting and several animal carers have taken in dogs themselves.

But now they will finally have to start putting down the healthy animals to make space for the never ending intake of new finds.

Overton councillor Mort Allan runs the kennels at Middleton. He fumed: "I wanted to put an advert in your paper. I wanted it to read 'To the owners of the 23 dogs: They're being put down, I hope you had a Merry Christmas.' I'm supposed to put them down after seven days but I've been holding on until now.

"The puppies started coming in earlier this year than usual. They usually keep them a few weeks at least but I had my first on New Year's Eve this year. That one's due to be put down on Friday."

This year is worse than usual because Animal Care are in the process of building brand new kennels and can't accommodate as many - although staff have taken as many as they can into their own homes.

Manager of Animal Care Val Harwood commented: "They take their old dogs down the police station when they're getting a new one for Christmas. They think it will be looked after and I just hope some of them read about it. Perfectly healthy animals will have to be put down this year because of people's ignorance and callousness. I have eight at home now and there's no way I can take another. I've also got a cat someone left at my home door with a note on Christmas Eve." If you can help call Val Harwood and her team on 65495.

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