There's no room to swing a cat at animal rescue centre

IT HAS provided a refuge for stray and unwanted dogs and cats across the Capital for more than a century.

But for the first time in its 127-year history, the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home could be forced to close its doors to dogs if the number of pooches being cared for at the centre continues to rise.

Manager of the home, David Ewing, pictured, said it was almost bursting at the seams with dogs and is currently caring for as many as 90 - the largest number of dogs taken in by the centre in the run-up to Christmas in the last decade.

Mr Ewing, 53, said: "We are desperate to see some of these dogs getting away to new homes before Christmas time."

In November last year, the centre - which can hold around 120 dogs - was caring for between 60 and 70 dogs.

Mr Ewing added: "The last couple of weeks have been relentless with dogs getting handed in. We need dogs to be rehomed to counter that number, but it's been one-sided - we could very well reach the point where we're chocca and have no room for any more."

Over the last month, an average of ten to 12 dogs have been taken in by the centre each week, compared with around five to six per week in previous months.

"This has probably been the busiest lead-up to Christmas that we have had in the last tenyears. There's no obvious reason to it but I think the recession has had an effect. There are people who have decided their dog is one of the things they can't afford to keep any more."

The centre first opened its doors at Comely Bank in 1883, before moving to Broughton in 1900. It relocated to Seafield Road East in 1957.

Mr Ewing said: "In my 37 years of working here we have never refused people if they turn up with animals. But we are getting closer and closer to that happening."