THE credit crunch has led some pet owners to abandon their pets, with charities and organisations that care for animals stretched to capacity.

Fifty-seven per cent more pets have been dumped during the last year and the problems seem to be getting worse, latest RSPCA figures reveal.

Figures show the charity dealt with 11,586 dumped animals last year compared to 7347 in 2007, an average of more than 30 animals every day in 2008.

In the first two months of this year, a further 1,432 animals were abandoned, and the number of calls from people saying they want to give up an animal has soared by 52 percent.

But the charity is warning it may have to cut jobs/" target="_blank">jobs because the fall in property prices is expected to reduce income from legacies and the recession is likely to reduce donations.

Recent cases include: On January 1, two six-week old puppies were dumped into the river in Throop at around 10.30pm, minutes after a car had been heard in Pigshoot lane.

On January 9, two grey tabby cats aged six months and 18 months were dumped in a blue drawstring bag at the top of Zig Zag Hill near Shaftesbury.

On January 19, nine rabbits were thrown from a car window at Brockishill Road, Bartley, and some were cared for at the Ashley Heath Animal Centre.

Tim Wass, RSPCA chief officer of the inspectorate, said: “It is a challenging time for the RSPCA but more importantly it is a crisis out there for the animals.

“We know things are going to get tougher.”

Mr Wass said it was an offence to abandon an animal and people who could not care for their pets should seek help and advice.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s Oceanarium revealed 40 creatures had been donated to it in the last year, and more have had to be turned away with a suggestion to try other zoos and aquariums.

Many of the public donations are large creatures, brought in by owners who no longer have the adequate size tanks and equipment to care for the animals.

The Oceanarium is warning the public to make sensible and informed choices when choosing fish, reptiles and amphibians.