There has been a massive increase in the number of pets abandoned in Kent.

The says it has seen a 57 per cent increase, which staff think is due to the recession.

Kent spokesman Klare Kennett from the charity said it is putting a huge strain on re-homing centres.

She said there was no good reason to neglect an animal, especially when there was plenty of food in a home for the humans.

Audio: Klare Kennett comments on the latest figures (warning: some descriptions in the audio may affect listeners of a sensitive nature)

Nationally, the number of animals abandoned across England and Wales has soared by a similar number, and the problem seems to be getting even worse.

The animal welfare charity dealt with 11,586 dumped animals last year, a shocking average of more than 30 animals abandoned every day of the year. And the trend seems set to continue as figures from the first two months of 2009 show a further 1,432 animals abandoned.

In the south east, there were 2,275 animals abandoned, compared to 1,602 the previous year, and a total of 28,285 animals rescued by the charity in 2008.

The number of calls from members of the public wanting to give up an animal is also up by 52 per cent nationally.