A dog rescue centre in the midlands has issued an appeal for more foster homes and more people willing to adopt abandoned dogs after reaching full capacity following a post-Christmas rush.

The Cara Rescue Centre in Portlaoise has been taking care of abandoned dogs for more than four years and it has rehomed more than 1,000 dogs since it first opened its doors in 2011.

However, more than 70 dogs are now in foster care in 35 homes across the midlands and Dublin - and unless permanent homes can be found for at least some of them, the centre will be unable to house any more in the weeks ahead.

The dogs Cara places in foster homes until permanent homes can be found tend to be vulnerable animals rescued from pounds or vets’ clinics, or dogs which have simply been abandoned.

They are all treated for fleas and worms, are fully vaccinated, micro-chipped and neutered before rehoming.

“Last week alone we took in 22 dogs, including three litters of pups,” says Lorna Dunne, a volunteer at the centre. “If a pound has a dog which it feels is particularly vulnerable, either because it is pregnant or very young or sick, then they might call us - and we can’t say no.”

She says the last couple of weeks have been particularly busy, as people who were given or gave dogs as gifts over Christmas realise they cannot cope or don’t have the levels of commitment required to take care of a animal.

Dunne does not, however judge many of those who contact Cara looking to get rid of a pet. “Some people just don’t realise what they are taking on and they don’t realise the work that is involved in raising a dog.

‘Mean people’

“But at least those who get in touch with us are giving the dogs chance. The ones who just dump them are horrible, mean people and I will never understand them.”

David Duffy is quite the opposite of such people. He is one of the Cara foster parents. “I saw that they needed volunteers on Facebook and that they had dogs that needed help. I couldn’t say no,” he laughs. “I emailed them almost immediately.

“We have been doing it since last June and we ended up adopting the first dog we fostered. We have rehomed six dogs since then.

“It is not easy giving them away sometimes, to be honest with you. But we do take a lot of comfort from the fact that all the people adopting the dogs have been properly vetted and are going to good homes.”

Anyone interested is providing one of those good homes can find our more at https://www.facebook.com/CaraRescueDogs.

There are also open days at the Petmania store in Portlaoise every Sunday from 2pm to 5pm.