BRADFORD residents have been warned against buying pets as last-minute Christmas presents by a city RSPCA boss.

Terry Singh, general manager of the Bradford and District Branch of RSPCA, says he has become frustrated by people looking to get a pet as a gift for Christmas.

He has called for responsible ownership and urged people instead to only try and adopt pets in the new year.

The Mount Street branch even refuses to take on adoptions over the festive period. It refuses to release animals from last Friday until December 27, when they will then resume their adopting out process for animals. But animals can still be viewed and reserved during this period.

The branch will be open every day over the festive period apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Mr Singh fears pets given as presents may be neglected by busy families, or recipients may lose interest, over Christmas and end up swelling the ranks of animals at the RSPCA centre.

He says people have particular interest in taking on domestic animals, including dogs, cats and rabbits at this time of year.

Mr Singh said: "It's frustrating.

"We're trying to get the message out for people to be responsible.

"People seem to want puppies and kittens for their children as presents for Christmas.

"People want pets for the wrong reasons at this time of year.

"They should reconsider getting a pet after the festive period and not obtain a pet on impulse and emotions.

"For an animal to be abandoned straight after Christmas is not a very good start to their life.

"We are stretched at this time of year.

"Any animal is a life, not an object or a product. People need to be able to distinguish the difference.

"Responsible ownership is important.

"You have to wonder how long it will be before interest goes out of the window for a child who gets a pet at Christmas?

"A lot of the cases of abandoned pets at Christmas can be avoided if people had common sense.

"We stop releasing animals over the festive season as we always promote that a pet is for life, not just for Christmas.

"As it's a very busy time for most families it is not the ideal time to introduce a new pet into the home.

"Our way of dealing with it is to encourage people not to get a family pet at a particular time for the wrong reasons.

"If they want to a pet they should get one way before Christmas, or way after Christmas."

For more information on the centre, go to rspca-bradford.gov.uk.

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