Think before buying a dog for Christmas - strong message from Jerry Green staff at Broughton

BOSSES at a dog rescue centre say they have been inundated with calls to take in abandoned canines.

The Jerry Green Dog Rescue centre in Broughton is currently running at full capacity, with more than 50 animals on site.

Now, staff have urged people to think carefully before buying or adopting a dog, to avoid increasing pressure on the centre.

Angela Salisbury, operations manager, said: "We are currently inundated with calls to take in abandoned dogs and this situation can often get worse after the novelty of having a dog for a Christmas present wears off.

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"At the moment, we are full and have a long waiting list.

"We are careful with re-homing all the time and especially at Christmas.

"The re-homing process is in place to ensure people are given all the advice and support they need.

"What people need to bear in mind is that dogs become a member of the family and can live for many years.

"In most circumstances, I would say it is not appropriate to get a dog at this time of year because of the amount of social occasions and noise makes it hard for a new dog to settle in."

Ms Salisbury said anybody who was looking to adopt a dog should contact the Jerry Green centre.

She said: "If you are thinking about adopting a dog then the best thing to do is to ring our centre for advice.

"If you do want to get a new dog, rescue dogs are the way to go.

"We are full to capacity and have a long waiting list so there are plenty of dogs available that need a loving home.

"We have a meet and match service which tailors a dog's needs to a new owner."

This year Jerry Green Dog Rescue is appealing for members of the public to donate festive treats for its current canine residents.

There are stockings in the reception of the rescue centre in Broughton, where people can leave treats and toys for the dogs.

For information about adopting a dog from the centre, visit www.jerrygreendogs.org.uk or alternatively telephone 01652 653343.