More dog owners are being forced to give their dogs up because they cannot afford to feed them.
As a consequence, local humane societies are being inundated with large numbers of abandoned dogs.
Yesterday, at the Roberts and Vitapet Dog Fair, officials of the Hope Sanctuary, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the ARK Animal Welfare Society all shared similar stories of hardship befalling animal lovers.
Petra Bellamy of the Hope Sanctuary said a lot of people just cannot afford to keep their dogs any longer and are having a hard time keeping up with their feeding and treatments.
On the other hand, the organisations said they were also finding a lot of stray dogs which were emaciated, abused or uncared for.
Currently, there are over 170 dogs at the sanctuary, about double the usual number. (LK)
