North Wales animal rescue centre in search of forever homes

Most will have not have made the decision to take on a pet lightly, and will be ready and researched for the responsibility.

But as ever, there will be those who didn't see the gifting of a kitten or puppy beyond the excitement of the festive season.

It's something the staff and volunteers at North Clwyd Animal Rescue are all too familiar with.

In the days before Christmas, they often received calls at the centre from people asking if they had any kittens for sale, as if it were some last minute gift-buying option.

And they expect the annual rise in animals coming their way after the novelty wears off, as well as still seeing 'lockdown dogs'.

A spokesman for the charity said: "Once the reality kicks in, we'll probably see the rise in the next couple of months.

"Some of the pre-Christmas calls were obviously last minute present ideas.

"It's quite amazing the mentality of some people.

"Often when a couple come to adopt, we ask what would happen if the relationship breaks down.

"A lot of the time they say 'well we'll just bring it back here'."

And it's that kind of attitude that the team at the Trelogan-based rescue centre weed out with their adoption process.

They also know their animals as individuals, and therefore know what kind of home they are more likely to thrive in.

Whether it's a dog, cat, rabbit or guinea pig, staff are on hand to advise on the character and suitability of each.

The spokesman added: "The rehoming team here have years of experience. They'll look at an adopter's circumstances and know if it will work or not."

They also make sure potential new owners are aware of the ongoing costs of a pet, including food and vet bills, which can often be for unexpected treatment.

But thankfully there are plenty of responsible, loving people looking to give an animal its forever home.

And there are always animals of all types, ages and needs that will be the perfect match.

Here we meet just some of those at NCAR looking for a new home.

• For more details, please visit ncar.org.uk or if you would like to support the charity without adopting, you can visit their cafe, open from 10.30am to 3.30pm. They also accept donations at the centre between 10am and 4pm.

You can also help by fundraising, sponsoring a kennel or supporting one of the NCAR charity shops in the region.

Bumper and Turbo.

• Bumper and Turbo are a pair of male kittens born at the rescue who are now old enough to find new homes. They lack confidence when meeting new people but don’t take long to come round, but this has led to them being overlooked so far. They are cheeky lads who love playing with toys. They are looking for homes with owners that will be patient with them as they settle in and help them to grow in confidence. They would be best in homes without young children. They are looking for homes away from busy roads so they can explore safely once old enough to go outside. They can be rehomed as a pair or separately.

Opie.

• Opie is a five-year-old collie cross who has been in and out of the rescue a few times, as he has had some issues in the home. When he first goes home, we have found he is very on edge and the slightest thing can unsettle him and this is when he starts to act out. In one home he was very attached to the mum and had started to guard her. Due to his issues he is looking for an adult-only home with an experienced owner that is willing to work alongside staff to get to know him to get a full understanding of his needs and behaviour before taking him home. As he is still a young boy, he is looking for a home where he isn’t left for too long. Opie is looking for a very active household where he will get lots of exercise and outdoor stimulation as he is an intelligent boy. Regardless of Opie's issues, he really is amazing, he loves to have cuddles on the bench, people watch, go to the beach, go exploring and experience new things.

Heidi.

• Heidi is a pretty grey tabby and white female cat. Heidi is 18-months-old and came to the rescue with her kitten and no longer wanted by her original owners. We are looking for an adult-only home. Heidi is affectionate but it can be on her terms, so would be suited to someone with cat experience and know when to leave her alone. She would like a garden in a quiet area to venture out in once she has settled in. She would like to be the only pet in the house.

Nala.

• Nala is a four-year-old labrador who came into the rescue after starting to show aggression to young children in the home. She was used to living with five children but had started to change her behaviour towards the two youngest. She is generally a friendly girl with adults and has shown no negative behaviours towards strangers, apart from being a little weary on first arrival - although we have been advised she can be nervous around men. She loves her toys and racing around the paddock - ripping the stuffing out of cuddly toys is her favourite. She has the potential to live with another dog given a few mixes at the rescue were done. She is a fairly high energy dog and will need a good dose of daily exercise to keep her happy. She cannot be rehomed with living or visiting children. She could potentially live with older teenagers providing they were sensible. She is house trained and is generally very good in the home. She is a sweet and insecure girl who needs a calm home who can help her with her issues.

Biscuit.

• Biscuit is a lovely, small, tabby male cat that came to the rescue after being found under a hedge. Biscuit has episodes of sneezing which may be an ongoing issue, as we think he may have had cat flu when a kitten. He is a lovely lad who likes attention and loves to play. He would like a garden he can venture into once he has had time to settle in but this must be away from busy roads. He would prefer to be the only pet and could go to a home with teenage children.

Pablo.

• Pablo is a gorgeous four-year-old bulldog who came to the rescue as a stray. His original owners were contacted but they no longer wanted him. He was rehomed but was returned for showing random aggression in the home. We do not know what triggered this, but his previous owners also said the same thing about his erratic behaviour in the home. We have seen no issues at all here at the rescue, and have done rigorous behaviour tests. Pablo is generally good with strangers and does like other dogs, however, we would be looking for a home with no living or visiting children and without other animals. We would also want any potential owners to spend time with our behaviour team before taking Pablo home. He is a sweet boy who is not dealing with kennel life very well.