CHESHIRE Pet in Holmes Chapel is urging people to ‘think long and hard’ before getting a pet as it was revealed that 554 animals were abandoned in Cheshire in the past 10 months.

Last week, the RSPCA released a national league table of animal abandonments between January 1 and October 1 2014, with Cheshire ranking as the 17th worst place for abandonment in England.

The animal welfare charity said that the number of abandonment cases is soaring and it expects the situation to get worse in the run-up to Christmas.

“Even in a nation of animal lovers, there are thousands of people out there who don’t care about their pets at all. In fact, some literally treat them like rubbish,” said RSPCA superintendent Martin Marsh.

“Worse still, holidays like Christmas can lead to an increase in abandonments as some people choose to get rid of their pets rather than pay for them to be looked after while they are on holiday.”

Cheshire Pet in Holmes Chapel has witnessed firsthand this ‘alarming’ increase in abandonment cases, with an exotic bird, a terrier, two kittens, a cat and a rabbit among the menagerie of homeless pets brought to the attention of the practise in recent weeks. One such case involved a small black cat which was found locked in a cat carrier at Shakerley Mere, near Goostrey.

Jane Hammersley, head nurse at Cheshire Pet, said: “Fortunately a passer-by was kind enough to investigate the contents of the carrier and brought it to us. We like to think in this case the person who abandoned the cat most likely intended someone to find it, by placing it in a car park where many people go to walk around the Mere. “Luckily they did.”

Jane urged people to think ‘long and hard’ before getting a pet as it is a commitment for life and brings with it a huge amount of responsibility.

“It’s best not to get that cute rabbit because it can be bought for little money, rather than walk away if you aren’t prepared to take care of it,” she added.

“There are always going to be cruel people, who we will never understand who inflict pain and terror on animals and we can only appeal to them to see the error of their ways.

“Of course people’s circumstances change and they can become unable to care for their pet, but all we ask is that they get help, it could be family and friends, neighbours, rescue centres, animal charities, don’t just dump or abandon them they deserve far more than that.”