Every year helpless pet pooches and their feline friends are abandoned after being given as unwanted Christmas presents.

FELIXSTOWE: An adorable face like this isn't just for Christmas - it's forever!

Every year helpless pet pooches and their feline friends are abandoned after being given as unwanted Christmas presents.

The Blue Cross Animal Rescue Shelter in Felixstowe is bracing itself for a deluge of poor and unfortunate left unloved and without a home.

After receiving cute and cuddly kittens and puppies during the festive period, some owners grow bored of the responsibility of looking after a pet.

Laura Dobson, spokeswoman for The Blue Cross, said: "Owning a pet is a huge commitment and we urge people to consider the time and effort required before taking one on.

“It's so sad that pets bought as Christmas presents are often given up further down the line as they get bigger and more unmanageable and people find it harder to cope."

Nationally, the Blue Cross, which has 11 centres across the country, has taken in more than 50 abandoned pets since Christmas Day as well as hundreds more animals which have been given up for other reasons.

The Blue Cross, which has a centre on Walton High Street in Felixstowe, cares for and re-homes thousands of animals every year - many of which are unwanted, strays and mistreated.

Douglas and Dougal, six-month-old black male kittens from an unwanted litter, are just two of the many animals at the Felixstowe centre currently looking for a new home.

Ms Dobson said: “If anyone is struggling then please contact the centre for advice.

“But never dump a pet as it can be dangerous and it's much harder for us for us to find them the right home if we don't know their background.”

For more information on the Blue Cross and the services it offers visit www.bluecross.org.uk

Are you an animal lover? Were you given an animal for Christmas? Write you Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Pet pooch and friendly feline facts

Dogs were first domesticated from wolves at least 17,000 years ago.

Ailurophilia is the love of cats.

The greyhound is the fastest dog on earth and can hit speeds of 45mph for short periods.

A cat's heart beats twice as fast as a human heart, at 110 to 140 beats per minute.

Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic.

Sir Isaac Newton, discoverer of the principles of gravity, also invented the cat door.

A dog's smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than that of a human.

All dogs are identical in anatomy - 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth.

Do you want to adopt an adorable pet?

If you would like to find out more about adopting a pet from the Blue Cross centre in Felixstowe visit www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/CustomPages/AnimalsForAdoption.asp

Dogs and cats aren't the only animals looking for a new family to love - the centre also looks after homeless horses, ponies and donkeys as well as many smaller animals.