Animal shelters "bursting at the seams", says PETA

Animal welfare centres across the UK are struggling to cope as the number of homeless pets increases.

According to an article by the Swindon Advertiser, five dogs found abandoned in the town were due to be put to sleep last week, after efforts to re-home them proved fruitless. Thankfully, a campaign by the newspaper led to a flurry of interest from members of the public, and all of the dogs were saved.

UK-based animal charity, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation, has described the situation in Swindon as heartbreaking, but said it is being replicated across the UK.

PETA spokeswoman Mimi Bekhechi said: "Swindon is not the only town to reach a crisis point. Animal shelters across the country are bursting at the seams with homeless animals."

Adopting and looking after pets is a significant commitment, which is why it is vital to speak to animal welfare experts at re-homing centres who are trained to ensure that the right animal is matched with the right individual or family.