CHARITIES and police have been inundated with stray and unwanted dogs during the festivities.

The Pet Hotel, Hapton, which cares for dogs brought to Burnley area police stations, is now housing 33 strays which will be destroyed if no homes can be found for them.

The RSPCA shelter, Altham, is also full with 70 dogs - the maximum they are allowed to care for - and another 250 dogs waiting to come in.

George Connor, of the Pet Hotel, said: "We have never been so busy before. We think some may have run away after being frightened by the New Year fireworks. We hope they will be claimed soon but a lot of the others were just left at police stations."

One of the saddest cases was five six-week-old puppies taken to Nelson police station in a bin bag last week by a man who said he had found them.

The black, Staffordshire-cross puppies appear healthy and are being cared for by Pet Hotel staff until they are old enough to be re-homed in a couple of weeks.

Mr Connor said: "They should have been with their mother for another three weeks to help build up their immune system. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they will be all right."

Jeanette Ainscough, of the RSPCA shelter, said there were more than twice as many dogs waiting for homes compared to the same time last year.

She said: "We have been inundated with unwanted dogs and re-homing is really slow. We are desperate for suitable people to come in and take dogs.

"I think because a lot more people have been going away or having parties at the Millennium, they have decided to wait until it's over before taking on a new pet."

Anyone interested in giving a home to a new pet can contact the RSPCA on 01254 231118 or the Pet Hotel on 01282 455742.

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