Animal charities across Fife are being inundated with unwanted pets in the post-festive period, The Courier has learned.
Rehoming centres said they are dealing with a “constant stream” of pets that require rehoming, apparent victims of the season of goodwill.
Hundreds of dogs and cats have been handed in to rehoming centres or simply dumped by their owners, many having found they are unable to cope with looking after the animals.
Ena Conyon, co-founder of Second Chance Kennels in Thornton, said: “We’ve been taking in quite a few dogs. Today I’ve been asked to take in five dogs alone and it’s such a shame.
“In recent years, since websites like Gumtree came about, we’re finding that many are trying to sell their unwanted dogs but we have continued to take quite a lot in.”
Rhona Gordon, the operator of the Kelty Fife Cat Shelter, said she was kept busy prior to Christmas and the number of animals needing help showed no signs of abating.
“At times we can be asked to take in as many as seven cats on a single day.
“We pay for a private cattery to board most of our cats and it is almost at capacity.”
Many cats are abandoned or handed in for rehousing as the result of an unwanted pregnancy.
Mrs Gordon said that her charity is now offering discounted neutering in an effort to reduce the amount of unwanted and abandoned cats in Fife.
“People don’t realise that cats can become pregnant at five months,” she added.
“Sometimes people will sell the kittens and then get rid of the cat.”
A Scottish SPCA spokesperson said: “Sadly, every year in the months following Christmas we are inundated with animals as the novelty of a new pet wears off.
“Since Christmas Day our rescue centres closest to Fife have taken in 77 pets.
“There does tend to be an increase in the number of animals we rescue in March and April as this is usually when people become bored with the animal they have received as a gift.