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Animal rescue centres say they are being inundated with pets abandoned after being bought during lockdown.

Staff at centres in Bath and Bristol say they are struggling to keep up with the number of animals needing rehoming. The RSPCA said living costs are putting pressure on households meaning they can no longer afford to keep their animals. Jodie Hayward, who manages the Bristol Animal Rescue Centre, said they seeing large numbers of rabbits, in particular, coming through their doors.

"In the 10 years that I've worked here I've never known us to have 20 rabbits," she added. "We had four rabbits abandoned on a busy road in the city centre."

Staff at the centre said they are already receiving far more animals than they can find homes for. Bath Cats and Dogs Home has 20 dogs waiting for space as it is at full capacity, and is running clinics in the community to support pet owners.

Rachel Jones, who works at the home, said: "Pet owners are struggling with rising costs, there's the cost of food and care and obviously unexpected vet bills as well. "So if there are any future ways we can support rather than animals needing to come into our care then we really want to do that."

RSPCA inspector Hayley Lawrence said the situation had "evolved fast" in the past few months as people who had been able to have pets in lockdown due to working from home are now going back into their workplaces.

The charity estimates that there could be a million cats that have not been neutered in the UK because of lockdown. The Bristol Animal Rescue Centre said it is trying to support pet owners by running its own neutering scheme.

"If you live in Bristol and you're on a low income or low benefits we can provide very cheap cat neutering," said the centre's head vet Damian Pacini. "We also run a couple of outreach clinics in Lawrence Weston and Knowle West, again for people who may be struggling to afford to look after their pets or access veterinary treatment."

PROVIDE A PROTECTED AND CLEAN LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR DOG.
Shelter from the elements and hazards, as well as good hygiene, are basic to a quality life.        

ALWAYS KEEP FRESH WATER AVAILABLE. 
Maintaining optimal hydration is important for health and energy.

FEED A QUALITY DIET AND PREVENT OBESITY.
Overweight humans and animals can adversely affect health in many ways. Follow the dietary recommendations that your veterinarian will make according to the nutritional needs of your dog, based on size, age, level of activity and breed. Remember to provide healthy treats rather than table scraps, as rewards.

HAVE YOUR PET EXAMINED BY A VETERINARIAN ON A REGULAR BASIS.
Your veterinarian will provide you with the information on vaccination schedules, deworming and external parasite control. Keep a copy of your pet’s vaccination records in your home or with you when you travel. Contact your veterinarian if you believe that your pet may be ill, injured, or if something just doesn’t seem right. Your veterinarian is the expert on keeping your dog healthy.  Work as a team with him or her.

PROVIDE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXERCISE. 
Make sure your dog gets the regular exercise needed to enable it to be fit.  By being in shape, your dog will be more capable of participating in the activities that it enjoys.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR DOG AND DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP. 
Dogs are social creatures and they need to interact with their owner. Quality time will help you get to know your dog and understand  particular needs that it might have, as well enhance your ability to recognize early signs of an illness that could be developing. In addition, time spent in developing a relationship will help prevent many undesirable behavioral patterns.

TRAIN YOUR DOG TO FOLLOW THE SIMPLE COMMANDS.
Puppy and dog training classes can be very helpful. The better your dog is at following basic and necessary commands, the greater the chances are that your dog will live a safe and long life.

PRACTICE REPRODUCTIVE CONTROL.
If you do not intend to create puppies, spaying or neutering is a certain option. If you plan to breed your dog or are opposed to spaying and neutering for other reasons, take appropriate measures to prevent mismatings. Consult with your veterinarian in regard to other options that are available.

DENTAL CARE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Many breeds are prone to gum disease, which can have serious implications. Infection resulting from this condition leads to premature tooth loss, and can commonly cause infections in major organs, including the heart valves.    

DON’T OVERLOOK GROOMING AND NAIL TRIMMING. 
Long coated dogs are prone to developing matts and ice balls in their hair. Overgrown nails are common in elderly dogs and can make it more difficult for them to walk. In addition, such nails are much more prone to breaking, which can be quite painful.