DOZENS of animals at an animal sanctuary were rehomed over the festive period.

Staff at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, Edenfield, said around 30 cats and 50 dogs were given new homes over the past month.

Liz Ellis, 31, who has worked at the sanctuary for four years, is responsible for looking after the cats.

She said: “We have rehomed a lot of animals this winter.

“We only had one cat dumped this year too. We usually have them left in carrier bags.”

Liz said the limited resources at the sanctuary meant unwanted cats that already had homes were put on waiting lists, whilst those without homes are given priority.

She said: “A woman wanted to leave her cat with us, and we said it would have to go on a waiting list. She left it in the sanctuary’s grounds, but we didn’t realise for two days because she just let it loose.”

Liz said more and more people were choosing to adopt cats, usually older felines, rather than choosing to buy them from a pet shop or private seller, because the sanctuary ‘looks after the animals properly’.

She added: “We neuter, de-flea, vaccinate, microchip and worm them.”

Rob Irvings, 26, began work at the sanctuary seven months ago. He said: “We have been busy. We have had up to 50 dogs go out, and we have not had a lot strays or dumped dogs, although we have had some returned.

“A lot of people get them for Christmas and I would hope they keep them forever.

“We will probably see a rise in dumped dogs in January and it’s normally because people don’t want them because they are unwanted gifts.

“These things happen and circumstances change or people realise they can’t look after them, so they bring them to us, which I would rather they do than dump them.”