A rescue centre is desperately in need of people to adopt or foster one of their cats or dogs waiting for a loving home.
Diefers Legacy Animal Rescue, based at an address in Johnson Fold, has a waiting list of 40 cats, two dogs and a rabbit currently in care, with more seeking homes.
Lisa Thorley, who runs the shelter, is unable to help any more cats or dogs until the rest are adopted or fostered.
She said: “We have a waiting list for dogs as well especially because people are giving them up but there is nothing in Bolton to help them.
“We can only take in what we can and so it is a vicious cycle.
“We are desperate for both fosterers and adopters as then we can help more cats.”
Many of the cats at the shelter are strays, which Lisa says is common to find in Bolton.
She said: “There are feral colonies of cats in Bolton, just hundreds of stray cats and people feed them, but they need vet care.
“If you feed a stray cat, do not wait until its injured to tell us as they’re just living on the streets.
“Contact as many places as possible if you see a stray cat.”
Lisa, a dog-walker, trainer and cat-sitter, is also noticing that more people are starting to give up their cats and dogs as they either are in financial distress or do not have the time anymore.
She said: “Contact an animal charity for help like cats’ protection who also do discount vet care or ring RSPCA for advice, as they are not disposable items, they are for life.
“I do have lots of people helping me, but it is a slow process, and we need them to be rehomed and so the waiting list grows and grows.
“It is really sad, and if there is a pregnant female or a kitten outside on its own, they become a priority.”
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Lisa set up the shelter in 2021 when she lost her Rottweiler and did not want to get another dog, so she fostered.
She said: “I realised there was nowhere for animals to go especially cats, there are hundreds of them needing homes and I started rescuing them but now it’s a full-time job I don’t get paid for.
“I love it though, I’m just an animal lover and have a degree in animal wildlife conservation but couldn’t get a job and I always wanted to work with animals, so now I am living the dream.”
To get in touch with the rescue centre email diefersLegacy@outlook.com or find the centre's Facebook page.
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