Rose Milne (right) set up the Second Chance Animal Rescue centre 40 years ago
The team behind an animal rescue centre which says it is at full capacity has warned the situation is “going to get so much worse”.
Second Chance Animal Rescue in Southampton is currently looking after about 50 cats and 20 dogs and wants to extend to nearby land.
But Rose Milne, who set up the centre 40 years ago, said it was not getting a response from the council.
A Southampton City Council spokesperson said the land was currently under a 10-year lease and had a “very restricted range of uses”.
Ms Milne said the centre had an influx of animals every year between September and Christmas.
She added: “When the children go back to school then what you have is the dogs are causing a pain or the cats who just need more attention, so they are abandoned because they start wrecking the house.”
Lola Glide, who also works at the centre, said having more space would be “perfect”.
She has adopted a puppy called Luna who was left with the team after her elderly owner tripped over her.
Ms Glide said the situation would get “so much worse” as people would just abandon pets if they could not find space at a rescue centre.
A Southampton City Council spokesperson said: “We understand the desire of Second Chance Animal Rescue to expand its premises and Southampton City Council is grateful for the excellent charity work it does.
“The land we believe they are interested in is currently under a lease for a period of 10 years.
“Additionally, the proximity of the nearby land to Southampton Airport runway means that it can only be used for a very restricted range of land uses.”
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