Pets abandoned as house repossessions increase (From Swindon Advertiser)

Pets abandoned as house repossessions increase

9:00am Sunday 7th December 2008 in News By Jeremy Grimaldi

John Warwick with recent arrivals at his animal sanctuary Buy this photo »

FURRY friends have become the latest victims of escalating home repossessions in Swindon.

John Warwick, owner of Swindon and District Animal Haven in Wootton Bassett, says a huge number of animals are being handed over to the centre because owners who have their homes repossessed aren’t able to find suitable rented accommodation that allow pets.

Nine dogs a month are being given to the animal centre due to repossessions. It comes after the Adver revealed last month that big banks tried to repossess more than two homes a day through the courts between April and June.

John believes the numbers over the last few months have been the highest in the home’s 12-year history.

“Last year 43 per cent of dogs taken in were because of divorce separation and home repossession, over the last five months it’s been 50 per cent because of repossession alone,” he said.

“We have dogs now that have been in loving caring homes for upwards of nine years and then all of a sudden, while the kids are at school, teary eyed owners are dropping them off without any other option.

Cats are becoming an increasing worry as they are starting to outnumber dogs, but money is getting tighter for us as the place fills up

John Warwick

”It really is heartbreaking – but it is really due to landlords becoming too fickle. As more people are looking for rented accommodation things seem to be getting worse – it is hard enough to find a place that allows children let alone animals.”

Between July and November John says the shelter took in 37 dogs because of home repossessions and believes cat and rabbit numbers are now on the rise and will soon overtake dogs.

John says he is becoming increasingly worried about not having enough room to accommodate all the homeless animals.

He said: “Cats are becoming an increasing worry as they are starting to outnumber dogs, but money is getting tighter for us as the place fills up.

“People are really struggling and it’s still early days yet – the worst is yet to come as we all know.

“The saddest part is that after years in a home animals only last a week in this sort of environment before they begin to miss home life.

“Last month seemed to show a bit of a let up as the banks started easing their repossession orders but no one is really sure what to expect in the future.”

Among the animals currently in John’s care is 10-year-old German Shepherd Elsa, who has been with him for two-and-a-half weeks.

Elsa is one of 14 dogs and a number of other animals in the centre looking to be re-housed.

Anyone interested in finding out more is asked to visit www.sdah.co.uk or call John on 07990 868887.