by Hayley Robinson

We all know a dog is for life, not just for Christmas – but that’s not the case for far too many puppies.

A three-month old Staffordshire bull terrier was among those taken to Jasmil Kennels, Lower Halstow, after she was found dumped in Pagitt Street, Chatham, on Thursday.

It’s believed she may have been an unwanted present.

The small staffie is just one of 12 dogs taken in by the kennels in Breach Lane between December 24 and December 29.

Among the others are a black male whippet found on Boxing Day near Gore Court Farm, Upchurch; a Jack Russell handed in at Medway police station on Christmas Eve; and a female Staffordshire bull terrier discovered in High Street, Sheerness, on December 29. The latest additions take the total number of dogs taken to the kennels throughout December to 65.

It’s now a race against time for kennel owners Corrina and Barry Shuttlewood to try to re-home the animals.

Mrs Shuttlewood said: "There’s only so many we can keep. We’re licensed for 78 dogs so some will have to be put to sleep.

"If they show signs of aggression or ill-health or we try and re-home them and they keep coming back because there’s a problem they would also be put to sleep."

Re-homing doesn’t always work out though as Noel, a three-year-old white haired terrier, recently found out.

His new family collected him at midday on Thursday, December 29, but returned him the following morning because ‘he wouldn’t settle’.

Mrs Shuttlewood said: "You feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall. We don’t get so many people coming forward now. I think financially people can’t afford it, dogs are a luxury.

"We used to re-home 15 to 20 dogs a month now it’s probably about 10. We need people that are serious about re-homing the dogs."

If you can offer any of the dogs a home contact Jasmil Kennels on 01795 842466 between 10am and noon and 2pm and 4pm seven days a week.