Campaigners say keep pets off wish list for Christmas

The Scottish SPCA has launched its seasonal campaign requesting the public not to give puppies, kittens or other young animals as Christmas presents.

It says many of them become next year's victims of neglect, cruelty or abandonment and dog and cat homes are overwhelmed with unwanted animals by January.

To try to prevent people from getting a pet on impulse for Christmas, the Scottish SPCA has suspended the re-homing of discarded puppies and kittens until January 3. The centre will continue to re-home adult dogs and cats during this period.

John Briggs, head of the society's uniformed division, said:

"The festive time is when domestic routines are turned on their heads and many people go on holiday - the worst time to introduce a new pet to a household.

"It is vital that prospective owners realise that pets are a commitment for the entire lifetime of the animal, and not just a whim that can be exchanged like a pair of socks or thrown out during spring cleaning.

"We are asking people who would like a pet to visit their nearest animal welfare centre in the New Year. The Scottish SPCA always has a deluge of animals arriving into the centres a few weeks after Christmas."