Warlingham animal rescue worker warns of worst Christmas for strays

By dfarbrother david farbrother david.farbrother@essnmedia.co.uk

A charity worker believes stray and unwanted dogs could find themselves on death row this Christmas.

Val Phillips, 54, who runs Valgrays Animal Rescue from her home in Crewes Lane, Warlingham, said that when kennels become too overcrowded, dogs face being put to death after as little as seven days.

This option is used if owners cannot be traced and alternate homes cannot be found.

Robert Muir, principal environmental health officer for Tandridge District Council, said: "Usually it's only injured dogs who are put down. Normally we find someone to take dogs, but we can't always guarantee this.

"We can't hold onto dogs forever. Our resources are limited, and unfortunately putting animals down after seven days is one of the options we have."

Mrs Phillips has saved and re-housed hundreds of dogs since she took on her first Border Collie in 1976 – but her rescue centre is full.

She said: "I'm not looking forward to Christmas. I can't remember a worse time for animals in the region and I've been taking on animals for 30 years. The local kennels are filling up and it's only going to get worse."

Mrs Phillips added: "I've got so many Staffordshire terriers, greyhounds, and collies I don't know what to do with them. If I don't save some of these dogs in the pounds then they will be put down."

Mrs Phillips said the problem was over-breeding and that the recession was no excuse for the problems. She added: "It costs just 70 pence a day to feed even a big German Shepherd."

As a solution, she advocated chipping and neutering dogs.

She also insisted that owners should take responsibility rather than passing the buck and abandoning their animals.

From April 2007 to April 2008 the council had dealt with almost 200 dogs. Almost a quarter of those, 47, were found in January and February, and four dogs have been put down during the year after homes could not be found for them.

For more information about Valgrays Animal Rescue call 01883 624513 or go to www.valgraysbcrescue.webs.com