Two distraught dogs nearly died after becoming the latest victims of the economic crisis, tied up and abandoned by their desperate owner outside a Telford dog rehoming centre.
Lola and Franko, thought to be Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreeds, were discovered by Hilbrae kennels owner Marty Burrell tied by leads to the centre’s van one evening last week.
With them was a note saying the owner loved the dogs dearly but had lost job and home and could not afford to keep them.
The two young dogs, one of whom is pregnant, had twisted their leads around each other so many times in their anguish that Marty said if she had not gone out that night, they would have strangled themselves.
The dogs were left at the Cold Hatton kennels with a note from their mystery owner, which read: “In the last 24 hours, I have lost my job and home and I can’t keep the dogs. Their names are Lola and Franko.
“I love these dogs with all my heart, please look after them.”
Marty said: “They were tied up and there was only a foot of lead left. Had I not gone out that night by the morning they could have strangled themselves.
“My staff could have gone in the morning and found two dead dogs – this is the thing that really upsets us.
“They are in very good condition and lovely natured little dogs.”
Marty wants to discourage people from discarding their dogs in this way because it puts a strain on the home. It is also an offence to abandon animals.
“People need to make sure the kennels can take them,” she said. “We are under pressure from licensing people to keep numbers down, we are having to say no and this person has jumped the system.
“One of the dogs is pregnant so we can’t rehome her. We will have to find a home for one but we will have to keep her until she has her puppies. The pair will have to be split”
An RSPCA spokeswoman said Telford was an area known by the charity as a place where people abandoned their pets.
On Easter Sunday, a dying rabbit was dumped in a park in Donnington and also during April seven guinea pigs were abandoned across Telford.
“People have got to seek help from the animal welfare charities, a family member or a friend,” she said.
“It is vital they are not embarrassed to seek help because people are legally responsible for their animal and if they can’t afford the pet, it is still their responsibility.”
RSPCA regional superintendent Martyn Hubbard added: “It is an offence to abandon any animal and there is never any excuse for doing so. If people have pets they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is always available from the RSPCA.
“We know things are going to get tougher. The RSPCA already works collaboratively with countless other animal charities and groups – this may well increase even further as we all work together to combat the current downturn.”
The RSPCA advice line is 0300 1234 555.
For more information about Hilbrae , call Marty Burrell on 01952 541254.
