Unwanted pets get tasty gifts from neighbours (From The Oxford Times)

Unwanted pets get tasty gifts from neighbours

7:00pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News

FOR the abandoned guests of West Oxford Animal Rescue, it has been a very happy new year.

Over the festive period the Sweetmans Road centre was swamped with donations of cash and food.

Residents left cans of food and bags of straw outside the store with notes attached.

Now the guinea pigs, rabbits, cats and hamsters can tuck into supplies that will last months, according to owner Janet Butler.

She said: “It was a wonderful surprise. We’ve had tins of food, pouches, dog leads, things for rabbits, straw, everything.

“It’s been the best year I’ve known. We’ve been overwhelmed with gifts and this will keep us going for ages.

“Some people just left bags of food outside with ‘Happy Christmas’ on, and we must have had more than £500 in donations.

“We really do have to say thank-you to Elsevier Science Publishers, based in Kidlington, who gave us absolutely loads.”

Tamin Rezek helps to foster the animals at the centre before they are adopted.

The six-year-old from Sweetmans Road said: “I really enjoy helping out and this is a really nice gift for the animals here.”