Dogsey

A County Donegal pet rescue shelter has said it is to close temporarily because of a large backlog in re-homing some animals.

Donegal Pet Rescue announced on its FB page on Wednesday that it is dealing with a large influx of dogs to the shelter.

It said its seven foster homes were currently "full to capacity".

The shelter added it "needs time to get the dogs in its care re-homed first" to free up foster space for more dogs.

Donegal Pet Rescue was formed in 2000 and is run on a voluntary basis. It takes in unwanted, abandoned and neglected dogs and cats.

Mr McCauley said new European Union regulations regarding the rabies vaccine and passports for dogs were the main reasons for the backlog.

He said: "In the past, Donegal Pet Rescue had a close affiliation with charities in the UK and we would have sent dogs we couldn't take over to England.

"But new EU law has come into place this year - special requirements such as EU passports for dogs, rabies vaccines and we have to hold onto the dog for an extra 21 days."

He added that the charity is now worried that because of the temporary closure, dogs could now end up abandoned on the streets.