THE founder of a pet rescue group in Kidderminster says lockdown restrictions are preventing the animals in her care from being rehomed.
Lyndsey Hill runs Greatfield Small Animal Rescue from a specially-adapted shed in her back garden, but says the centre has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic - both in terms of rehoming issues and donations.
Greatfield's latest rescues include 13 pregnant mice, which brings the total number in Lyndsey's care up to 40.
Lyndsey, 34, told The Shuttle: "We've had an influx of animals but can't rehome them because we can't do the suitable home checks.
"Plus we have no way of fundraising at the moment because of the lockdown.
"We're still getting calls and are having to take in emergency cases but we’re filling up fast because we can’t physically rehome the animals we've got.
"The longer they're with us, the more it's costing us to look after them. We're running up vet bills - vaccinating, microchipping and neutering. It all adds up.
"It's hard having to rely on donations and I think a lot of animal charities are in the same situation. We're tight on money."
Greatfield Small Animal Rescue was set up at the beginning of this year after Lyndsey and her husband took in two rescued guinea pigs.
The centre takes in mice, rats, guinea pigs and hamsters - most of which Lyndsey said come in from the Wyre Forest area and have been bought as pets for children who get bored of them.
Lyndsey added: "I personally haven't seen an increase in people wanting to get rid of pets since the pandemic. I think because more people are furloughed and at home more, they're more able to look after their pets.
"However we are anticipating that at the end of the pandemic when people go back to work that we will see a huge increase in animals being abandoned.
"Our problem is we haven't got the money or the room to look after them when that happens.
"If we can't take them in, quite often they will get dumped."
Lyndsey has joined the One Voice national appeal - a database of over 250 animal charities, wildlife hospitals and rescues who are desperate for help as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
For more information on the campaign, visit helpanimals.co.uk, or search Greatfield Small Animal Rescue on Facebook.
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