ANIMAL Rescue Cumbria has had a 'busy' year as people have been struggling with the cost of pets taken in over the pandemic, particularly with underlying health issues.

The centre, formerly known as Wainwrights', took in 228 cats and 118 dogs over the year. It has an average turnaround time of three weeks for pets to get new homes, with 215 cats and 113 dogs leaving in the same year. 

This is helped by a savvy social media strategy, involving regular posts of pictures and updates of its animals. Marion Yates, the general manager said: "It takes an awful lot of work to make sure they've got the best match, but it's nice to know that we've got some good homes for our animals to go to, very few bounce back to us."

The Westmorland Gazette: Chelsea says that pets are commitments and not just for ChristmasChelsea says that pets are commitments and not just for Christmas (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

However, the centre has a policy of not rehoming pets during the Christmas period, as the animal could become stressed with family members constantly visiting and leaving.

Even with pets not from the centre, animal care assistant Chelsea Gorse had this to say: "A pet is not for Christmas, a pet is a serious commitment they have to make sure that they have the right lifestyle to actually take in a cat or a dog." 

The Westmorland Gazette: This Border Collie is deaf, so can't work on a farm This Border Collie is deaf, so can't work on a farm (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

The recent period has been challenging for the centre. Marion said: "What we could say about the last three years is that they've been quite unpredictable but certainly animal numbers have gone up significantly this year."

"One thing we're finding at the moment in recent months more animals coming in with serious medical issues needing surgery and perhaps owners haven't been able to afford that. 

The Westmorland Gazette: Rosie has been looking for a new home for six months because of her health conditions - but she may move into one after Christmas Rosie has been looking for a new home for six months because of her health conditions - but she may move into one after Christmas (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

"We had some young French bulldogs in with breathing problems because they struggle anyway but if they're poorly bred they do need additional surgery which is a shame. 

"We had Ralph in he had a major medical operation to take out a lot of his soft pallete open his airways because he couldn't run without being sick it was awful." 

After surgery and a month of recuperation under Chelsea's watchful eye, Ralph recovered. 

Animal Rescue Cumbria relies on donations and fundraising, it also has a pre-loved pet items shop at the Beezon Road industrial estate in Kendal.