A GWENT animal sanctuary is bracing itself for another flood of abandoned pets this Christmas.

All Creatures Great and Small, in Church Farm, Llanfrechfa, is home to more than 400 abandoned or abused domestic and wild animals and its manager Viv Harris is appealing for people to buy pets for life and not just for Christmas.

She said: "I would ask people to stop and think of the responsibility involved when their child asks them for an animal as a present.

"We keep having adults coming to us saying that their children got bored with the animal after the novelty wore off.

"I also get really angry with people, and I have had grown women here crying, who say they can't cope with looking after a hamster or a rabbit - I mean it only takes about ten minutes a day to do it.

"What also happens is that puppies grow out of their cute stage into gangly, lanky things that chew everything.

"I've got an Alsatian called Wolfgang who ate my sofa but that's what dogs do after they are puppies."

Ms Harris says that the animal refuge is already full to capacity with no kennel or cabin space available.

All Creatures Great and Small has survived a difficult year which almost saw its closure in September.

A last-minute interest-free loan of £60,000 from an anonymous Newport couple ensured the safety of the refuge after it needed to raise £150,000 to buy a former trustee's half-share of the farm.

More than £95,000 was raised, from donations and sponsorship from fundraising events, mostly through the efforts of local people.

The sanctuary still has to raise money to pay back the loan and food and veterinary fees for the animals alone amounts to £1,200 a month.

Ms Harris says that she eventually wants the deeds of All Creatures Great and Small to be in the name of the animals and has plans for an indoor riding school to cater for people with disabilities.

If anyone can offer a good home to any of the animals or would like to make a donation please contact Ms Harris on 01633 866144 or visit the refuge's Internet address is www.allcreaturesgreatandsmall.org.uk