Pet shop faces closure over unwanted pets
 |
A Hull pet shop urgently needs donations and homes for more than 50 unwanted pets otherwise the business "will have to close".
Not Just Pets, in Chanterlands Avenue, started as a pet shop several years ago, and has since become a "dumping ground" for unwanted pets. Now, owner Amy Donoghue is urging people to help her before she loses her business.
"I have about 50 cats, dogs, ferrets and rabbits that all need homes and feeding," Miss Donoghue, 36, told the Hull Daily Mail.
She has recently lost her home because of the cost of looking after the animals.
"On the first day the shop opened someone dumped a parakeet at the front door, and it's just spiralled from there. I have found boxes of kittens in my bin and tanks of terrapins, with people even dropping off unwanted dogs at my house.
"I just need people to help me feed them all and eventually be able to give them homes," she said.
Miss Donoghue says she has been waiting to become a registered charity number for more than a year, meaning she is limited to the amount fundraising she can do, and has had to delete her social media accounts to help ease the problem.
She said: "I came off Facebook because people were contacting me all the time about taking in animals. Then all the abuse started and I just couldn't take it anymore.
"I have been assaulted in my own shop because I have refused to give kittens away to people. It seems I have helped so many people and now I need them to help me.
"I have turned half of the shop into a charity shop to help and I run a dog grooming business. I currently work six nights a week in an off licence to help buy animal food."
Miss Donoghue does not allow kittens to be rehomed at Christmas as they are "not presents", so people who want to give homes to the animals will need to wait until January, but they can provide help with donations of food and helping toward vets' bills.
"I have several cats that need to go to the vets but I can't afford to send them, because then the other animals won't get fed," she said. "I can't abandon these animals once they have been brought to my door, but I just can't afford to keep them. I have lost my house, and I don't want to lose this business."
Miss Donoghue said she cannot take on anymore animals because of the strain, and needs support from the public until the charity number is provided.
Donations can be delivered to the shop at 137 Chanterlands Avenue, where those wanting give the animals a home can also visit.
|
|
