A Cumbrian charity dedicated to caring for abandoned pets has endured a massive increase in costs during 2023.

Animal Rescue Cumbria has been re-homing animals since 1972, rescuing around 300 dogs and cats each year.

Across all areas the charity reported seeing their numbers skyrocket by around 30 per cent in the past year.

General manager Marion Yates said the team was at ‘full capacity’ as more pets are ending up at the shelter instead of finding a loving home first-time.

Recently, Animal Rescue Cumbria, based at Kappellan near Grayrigg, is seeing more puppies, and especially more bulldog breeds, being abandoned.

Most of the young dogs that show up at the shelter demonstrate limited socialisation and little or no training.

They are also seeing more animals with health issues due to poor breeding, including an increase in the number of pets with chronic medical conditions.

The charity has rescued an increasing number of abandoned and stray animals in 2023, particularly unwanted dogs from Council pounds. 

At the pound, dogs are given seven days to be claimed by an owner before they are euthanised. Marion said Animal Rescue Cumbria is doing their best to save as many as possible. 

“All of our costs seem to have gone up, not just the veterinary bills. We are operating at full or near-full capacity throughout the year," she said.

One of the reasons for this could be because the number of dogs coming through Shelter increased significantly during and after Covid.

Prior to 2020 the number of dogs in the UK had hovered consistently around 9 million for around a decade, today there are closer to 13 million.

Demand for dogs increased during Covid so breeders produced more puppies to meet this demand but as a result the number that end up in shelters or dog pounds has increased. 

“It is probably also the case now that less thought may sometimes go into the acquisition of a pet,” Marion said. “Perhaps some owners do not consider the significant, long-term costs and the time they need to commit to their pet."

While Animal Rescue Cumbria offers a safety net both for abandoned animals and much-loved pets whose owners can no longer care for them, the charity relies totally on donations.

Marion said: “Without donations and our volunteers who give their time, we simply could not continue our work.”