Situation 'critical' at French animal rescue centres

Animal refuge centres are reaching 'saturation point' as the number of pet abandonments in France reaches 'critical' levels.

As reported, more than 8,000 pets have been dumped at SPA centres across France since the beginning of summer alone - and volunteers are struggling to cope.

The SPA centre in Bordeaux is currently looking after 250 dogs and 200 cats. "It is the same every year," volunteer Gaëlle Deffez-Rault, told France 3 Nouvelle Aquitaine.

"People prefer to go on holiday and don't really care about the organisation [of accommodation] and care of their pet."

"People are on holiday, and the number of animals being brought in from the pound is not decreasing. So the situation is critical."

In 70% of cases, animals found roaming the streets and taken to the centre are eventually collected by their owners, but the Bordeaux SPA warned that it will soon run out of space to accommodate dogs.

"Some people still consider animals as objects, entertaining in winter, cumbersome in summer," the association wrote in a warning on its Facebook page.