The centre has stopped taking in new animals

Sixteen workers at the locally-run Cardiff shelter have been told their jobs are at risk.

All 113 animals at the shelter are to be rehomed in the next six weeks.

Trustees of the RSPCA's Cardiff and District branch have blamed structural damage to the site for their decision.

Elin-Angharad Davies, a spokeswoman for the RSPCA, said the closure move had been a difficult choice.

"It has been very hard, but it is not viable to keep the centre running," she said.

The staff will be made redundant at the end of six weeks Elin-Angharad Davies, RSPCA

"It has become a health and safety issue and the site was becoming very costly to maintain.

"The trustees decided that it would cost too much money to keep the current site open.

"We are looking to set up a brand new centre in the city but that is going to take time and money," she said.

The 11 full and five part-time staff were informed of the closure - and the threat to their jobs - on Thursday.

"The staff were obviously very shocked and upset, but this has been a very upsetting decision for everyone," said Ms Davies.

More than 100 animals will be found new homes

"We are having a two week consultation with the staff to try and find them alternative work with the charity," she said.

The charity are putting other animal welfare plans in place including setting up a network of foster homes and private boarding homes.

"We will make sure that no animal will suffer as a result of the closure," said Ms Davies.

"We are not concentrating on raising the funds for a new centre in the city.

"We want it to be a flagship centre but it is going to cost thousands and thousands.

Fund raising

"We are looking to buy a site as cheaply as we can but the buildings will cost a lot of money.

"A cat block alone will cost about �200,000 and we are going to need a dog block and an administration block," she added.

Sixty dogs, 48 cats and 5 rabbits are currently being housed at the Cardiff site.

Chair of the branch's trustees, Ann Hughes Roberts said that the group are determined to set up a new centre swiftly.

"We have a determination to replace the centre with a new centre that meets the needs of animal welfare in the capital of Wales," she said.