Charity plea to donate bedding directly to site

Gables Cats and Dogs Home is asking people to donate bedding to its site rather than off-site collection boxes

An animal charity is asking people to stop putting bedding into its off-site donation points due to health and hygiene reasons.

Gables Cats and Dogs Home in Plymouth said it was grateful for the much-needed donations but asked if people could take them directly to the charity instead.

Manager Claire Sparkes said the collection bins, located at supermarkets and stores across the city, were becoming "overfull" with items including large duvets.

She said it meant people could not get smaller items, such as pet food and litter into the collection boxes.

Claire Sparkes said the charity always needed duvets, blankets and towels for its animals at the rescue centre

She said: "Duvets are quite big and take up a lot of space, but we do need duvets at Gables.

"The Greyhounds especially love them - as long as they're not feather ones - because as you can imagine, the chaos it causes.

"When one gets ripped open the feathers go everywhere, and the staff spend hours trying to clean it all up."

Ms Sparkes said they always needed duvets, towels, and blankets, as well as food, treats and toys for the animals.

She said: "We always need old towels because we wash the dogs, especially if they get a bit muddy or wet."

The collection bins also have a sign which states "no bedding in here please"

The collection bins also have a sign which states "no bedding in here please".

Ms Sparkes said the charity had more than 100 cats and kittens in its care, some in foster homes, and between 45 to 50 dogs at the centre.

"We are asking people to donate anything that we can use for animals like cat and dog treats and anything that we can spoil them with," she added.