Another recently abandoned dog will spend Christmas in a centre

East Dorset District Council has now appealed for residents to be more responsible with household pets and not allow them to become strays.

They will also refuse re-homing requests fearing the strays may become Christmas presents, and could later be abandoned.

Councils keep strays for a week, before the re-homing process gets under way.

Michelle Jones, the district council's animal welfare officer, said: "All the rescue centres in this part of the county are full already.

"There just aren't any spaces left for stray or abandoned dogs and with Christmas just a few weeks away it's a real worry.

"Responsible dog ownership is the solution to the problem.

"If every dog owner was fully aware of their responsibilities from day one then there would be no abandoned or stray dogs, I wouldn't have such a distressing job and the rescue centres wouldn't be full."