A HULL dog rescue centre is urging people to choose rescue dogs as pets as it struggles to rehome unwanted animals.
Oakwood Dog Rescue, in Sutton Fields Industrial Estate, has 75 dogs on the waiting list but only ten kennels.
Founder and trustee Gill Williams is concerned about the situation and believes there are just too many dogs.
She said: "It is difficult to say why there is such a long waiting list, but every centre in the region is in the same position.
"We opened in 2009 and rehomed 35 dogs, last year that rose to 175.
"There are too many dogs in the UK with too many people breeding them and they are even being imported.
"About 230 dogs are being but down a day across the country and yet people are still breeding them."
Ms Williams believes rescue dogs have a bad reputation which puts off prospective owners.
She is urging people to visit rescue centres when buying a dog.
She said: "The common theme is that people just don't want rescue dogs and they don't realise we also have puppies.
"People assume the rescue dogs have issues and behavioural problems.
"For want of a better word, people think they are getting a dodgy dog.
"But dogs arrive here for a number of reasons.
"Sometimes people just can't afford to keep them anymore or they have to move house where dogs aren't allowed.
"Some have behavioural problems but many are superb dogs."
Ms Williams believes buying a rescue dog is a better option than going to a private seller.
She said: "It is better to get a dog from a rescue centre.
"We carry out a full behaviour assessment on all the dogs that come in.
"We also give them a full home profile so we can decide what would be suitable, whether the dog is good with children or other pets or whether it prefers an urban or rural environment.
"It takes three to four weeks for a dog to be adopted.
"We also offer lifetime support and will take the dog back if needed.
"You won't get this from a private seller."
