A WORCESTER kennels has had a "desperate" Christmas because the number of stray pets has surged.

Staff at Danemere Animal Rescue are struggling to accommodate more than 60 requests to home unwanted cats and dogs, despite being officially closed until the New Year.

They have also received a handful of requests for pets from potential owners, but fear the Tibberton-based rescue centre will soon reach bursting point.

"This is the worst Christmas we've ever known," said owner Sue Quinlan, who believed owners had effectively "cleared out" old pets to make room for new ones.

"Last year was bad, but this is worse. We don't open again until Monday, January 1, and we already look like doubling up our numbers. The situation is desperate."

"We're licensed for around 100 dogs and 120 cats, including boarding, but we must have received around 60 dogs and 50 cats already."

The centre was due to stop taking strays at the beginning of December, but continued until Sunday, December 17, due to demand.

Mrs Quinlan said ordinarily, the kennels, at The Common Farm, Tibberton, braced themselves for an upsurge around March and April, when pets given as Christmas presents were discarded.

"Fortunately, this is the first year we haven't had pets physically dumped in boxes outside the kennels, or tied to the gate," she said.

"They've been mainly picked up by the dog warden and police."

Mrs Quinlan said vets' fees topped £167 for neutering, clipping and vaccinating a bitch and £112 for a female cat.

Although reduced vets' fees help to curb overheads, adoption fees that help recoup costs amount to only £70 for a dog and £40 for a cat, leaving Danemere to find funds for the rest.

Mrs Quinlan added: "I don't think people realise just how much it can cost.

"We have to be responsible and have all the treatment done."

The rescue is appealing to businesses to provide annual sponsorship for a kennel at £1,500 or a cat pen at £552.

Any businesses interested in helping Danemere Animal Rescue should call 01905 794156 or 456825.

Anyone considering adopting a pet can also contact the centre on those numbers.