A NEWPORT animal sanctuary said this Christmas was the worst in 15 years for abandoned pets.

Tara Nirula, deputy manager at the RSPCA centre in Ringland, said she has never seen the shelter so full.

"In 15 years there's never been a Christmas as bad for abandoned animals," she said. "We're chock-a-block."

The shelter has about 70 cats and the same number of dogs on its waiting-list, needing new homes.

In the two weeks leading up to Christmas the shelter received constant phone calls from people wanting to get rid of their animals.

Miss Nirula said: "They wanted to rehome older dogs to make room for new puppies."

She said parents who don't know what to get their children for Christmas buy a kitten or puppy because they see it as an easy option.

But after a while the novelty wears off.

"These are living creatures," Miss Nirula said. "They are a big responsibility and something parents should think seriously before buying them as presents for children. They need commitment."

Volunteers at the RSPCA have also found dogs tied to the sanctuary's gates.

Pet owners going away over the Christmas holidays sometimes forget to make plans to put their animals into boarding kennels, Miss Nirula said.

She said some would rather abandon their animal than cancel their holiday.

"Sometimes there are legitimate reasons why people want to rehome their pets.

"But sometimes they are being fickle and have not thought about it properly."

One resident at the Ringland RSPCA is a seven-week-old puppy found dirty and hungry at a steelworks on New Year's Day.

Little Mango would have struggled to survive another night, according to Miss Nirula.

The terrier puppy was discovered at Orb steelworks and taken to the shelter.

He was extremely hungry and gobbled down his food, Miss Nirula said.

"He was bewildered, scared and worn out after his ordeal. Now he is a lot happier and just wants to be cuddled."

But it was cats which were abandoned more than any other animal at the RSPCA during this festive season.

Miss Nirula said they are desperate to rehome the older cats and dogs.

Joanne Rhys-Evans, manager at All Creatures Great and Small animal sanctuary in Cwmbran, said they shut over Christmas to prevent people buying animals as presents.

She said: "We feel people don't always buy pets for the right reasons."

Cats were abandoned more than any other animal at the RSPCA during this festive season.

Miss Nirula said they are desperate to rehome the older cats and dogs. Joanne Rhys-Evans, manager at All Creatures Great and Small animal sanctuary in Cwmbran, said they shut over Christmas to prevent people buying animals as presents.

She said: "We feel people don't always buy pets for the right reasons."