Northamptonshire animal rescue centres facing increased demand

Charities said they had to look after animals such as goats from petting farms

Rescue centres have reported big rises in the number of animals being handed in for them to look after in the run-up to Christmas.

The RSPCA warned it and other charities were facing an "unprecedented winter crisis" due to the cost of owning pets.

Centres said the amount of animals they were caring for had a knock-on effect with their own bills.

Clive Richardson, from a sanctuary in Raunds, Northamptonshire, said he "can't cope" with the demand.

Founder of Brook Farm Animal Sanctuary, Clive Richardson, said he had been inundated with calls

The RSPCA in the county said there had been a 38% increase in people handing in animals over the last three years.

The charity said it was the "combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis" that was causing the problem.

Brook Farm Animal Sanctuary has to look after cows given up by farms

Mr Richardson, at Brook Farm Animal Sanctuary, takes in a wide range of animals including racehorses and greyhounds, and said demand for his services had risen.

"The phones keep ringing every single day and it's not just dogs and cats - it's also cows, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, it's just everything."

He said he recently had to help a petting farm that was closing down, adding the "animals desperately needed somewhere to go or they'll just go to slaughter".

Redhead Rescues in Kettering looks after a wide variety of animals, including Shetland ponies

Teresa Underwood, owner of Redhead Rescues in Kettering, said her vet bill was now more than £2,000 a month.

"It gets worse by the week and sadly lots of animals are being euthanised because there is nowhere for them to go," she said.

In a four-week period this year the charity took in 45 cats and kittens.

"I do love it but it's exhausting. I'm on the go seven days a week from morning until 10 o'clock at night," she said.

A guinea pig home said it was seeing more animals given to it

Debbie Postles, a trustee of the Excellent Adventure Sanctuary - a guinea pig home in Northampton - said she was contacted by people who could not afford their pets.

She said the animals were often in good health, but it was "the cost of keeping a pet" that meant owners had to give them up.

The sanctuary currently looks after 24 guinea pigs and wants to take on more, but Ms Postles said she did not want to "compromise the care" of the animals.

Debbie Postles said vet bills and other costs stopped the charity taking more animals

The RSPCA said there was support for pet owners to help reduce costs, meaning they do not have give up their animals.

It said it had invested £1.5m in measures including pet food banks, welfare, and a dedicated website and helpline for cost of living support.