EVERYWHERE staff at a Lancaster-based animal sanc-tuary turn they are greeted by a four-legged friend - and it is about to get worse.

Animal Care, which is so crowded it is housing dogs in the reception and others in its brew room, is getting ready for the festive rush of animals.

And so it is appealing for animal lovers to re-home a furry friend before Christmas - in the four days that are left for residents to help.

"Everywhere we turn we have animals, even in our own homes, and over Christmas it will get much more hectic," says manager Steven Wakelin.

"But as of Sunday we will not be re-homing animals until January because of the national policy that a pet should not be a one-off present but planned," he told the Citizen.

"Also, it is a very hectic time of year with routines going out of the window and if an animal is taken in it can give it a false perceptive of home life - which could cause problems later."

And he adds: "It seems like we battle all year to get the waiting list down because we know we will be overwhelmed at Christmas"

The sanctuary is also appealing for donations of toys, chicken-based foods or cash to help tide them over during this, their most expensive time of year.

Residents can also sponsor a horse, pony or goat in the sanctuaries new sponsorship scheme.

For more information or to help, call 01524-65495.