An animal rescue has issued a heart-breaking plea as staff become inundated with calls about unwanted or neglected pets.
Freshfields Animal Rescue has been helping unwanted and neglected animals, from dogs and cats to farm animals and wild birds, for over 40 years, but staff say they are "pretty much at full capacity" as they say everyone has a part to play. Many animals are desperately looking for their forever homes, but families "like to buy young" before realising they "cannot cope".
The ECHO spoke to Georgia Podmore who told us how they receive many calls every day about requests to rehome. Just a few months ago, dog, Yoshi was one year old when he was taken to the vets to be put to sleep after his family could no longer look after him.
READ MORE: RSPCA branch that helps abused and neglected pets facing closure
Instead, he arrived at the animal rescue centre and is "full of life" but is still struggling to find his home, which staff fear is down to his bull breed type. Georgia said: "It's sad to think he wouldn't have been here anymore if we hadn't have taken him on.
"Although we wish there wasn't, there's still a stigma around bull breeds. We had a spaniel breed dog and interest was through the roof which was amazing for her but it's a shame we can't get the same interest for bull breeds.
"He is the friendliest dog, still a puppy really. And that's the kind of thing we are seeing, especially during the pandemic, a huge increase in lockdown pups which people are now wanting rid of. The rescue is being inundated with calls, we are at full capacity, it's never-ending. The worrying thing at the moment is it there seems there is a rise in abandonment."
During the pandemic, many people found themselves at a loose end and bought animals to help towards the loneliness of lockdown. But once things got back to normal, people soon realised that it was a "mistake" or they were no longer able to afford the animal in their care.
Staff at the rescue are encouraging pet owners to seek help and "not be ashamed of their circumstances" as there is "no judgement" on anyone who wants to give their pet a better life than they can offer. They urge people to never abandon their animals.
Last year, two piglets were abandoned nearby in "such a bad condition" that one of them had to be put to sleep due to an infestation of maggots. Similarly, 20 rabbits were left abandoned outside the rescue at Ince Blundell.
A cat, now named Victoria, was found in Victoria Park in a cat house that was taped up and in a bin bag, found by an unexpecting litter picker. Staff are urging families to contact rescue centres and charities should they need help as "no animal should be left to fend for themselves".
But despite being inundated with calls, the rescue centre remains dedicated to help a variety of animals and is home to 10-year-old Jacob the sheep who has become a long-term resident and Jurgen the pig, who was found abandoned outside Anfield stadium.
Georgia told the ECHO: "We do want to get out there that if you are struggling we are not here to judge. We are here to help. But we would also urge people to think before they get a pet, do your research.
"We currently have over 40 rabbits on our waiting list, it's continuous and it's a shame. Especially this time of year with the Easter bunny and nice weather, people want a rabbit but then when it gets colder, people want to rehome them.
"Ducks and chickens are another one, we get a lot of calls about ducks surprisingly, people taking them on as pets but then decide they don't want them because they are dirty. I think we stand out at Freshfields because we help all kinds of animals, even if we don't have space we will do our best to help."
More information about the rescue centre can be found online here.
