A PET sanctuary is appealing for people to provide good homes for rescued animals as it nears breaking point.

The RSPCA animal shelter in Altham currently has around 60 dogs in its kennels and is having to turn animals away because there is just nowhere to put them.

Now staff at the charity’s only shelter in East Lancashire have made an urgent plea to pet lovers.

The charity says that it needs people to step forward and adopt the animals from the centre so they can continue to help house unwanted and rescued pets.

After another recent appeal, the numbers of cats and rabbits were reduced but the waiting list to house pets remains at almost 100.

Ken Harrison, the branch manager in Altham, said: “We literally can’t take any more animals, we are totally full.

“The centre has reached crisis point.”

Jayne Crabtree, treasurer of the RSPCA Lancashire East branch, said one example of the lack of dogs being taken was a six-year-old Stafford-shire bull terrier called Kilo.

Jayne said: “Kilo was brought into our care last year via a RSPCA inspector because of neglect. She was underweight and unloved.

“She is not a glamour girl. Far from it. Is this why, when people come looking for a dog, they keep going past her in the kennels and choosing others?”

To inquire further about Kilo, or any animal at the centre, ring 01254 231118, or visit www.rspca-lancs.org.uk.